Amboynas

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of wood derived from several species of trees in the genus Pterocarpus, valued for its rich color and durability
2. Considered highly prized for use in fine furniture and cabinetry due to its beautiful grain patterns
3. Also associated with specific regions of Southeast Asia where these trees are commonly found and harvested

Etymology: "Amboynas" is the plural of "amboyna," a term for a valuable reddish wood, and the singular is the word that carries the history. It takes its name from Ambon, an island in the Maluku group of eastern Indonesia, where the timber was prized. The wood's name thus records a place: English speakers borrowed the island's name as a label for the commodity that came from it, much as "Damask" and "Cordovan" travelled from the cities that made or traded them into the names of fabrics and leathers.

Synonyms: rosewoods, exotic hardwoods