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The Collaborative International Dictionary
West Indian mastic

Mastic \Mas"tic\, n. [F., fr. L. mastiche, mastichum, Gr. ?, fr. ? to chew, because of its being used in the East for chewing.] [Written also mastich.]

  1. (Bot.) A low shrubby tree of the genus Pistacia ( Pistacia Lentiscus), growing upon the islands and coasts of the Mediterranean, and producing a valuable resin; -- called also, mastic tree.

  2. A resin exuding from the mastic tree, and obtained by incision. The best is in yellowish white, semitransparent tears, of a faint smell, and is used as an astringent and an aromatic, also as an ingredient in varnishes.

  3. A kind of cement composed of burnt clay, litharge, and linseed oil, used for plastering walls, etc.

    Barbary mastic (Bot.), the Pistachia Atlantica.

    Peruvian mastic tree (Bot.), a small tree ( Schinus Molle) with peppery red berries; -- called also pepper tree.

    West Indian mastic (Bot.), a lofty tree ( Bursera gummifera) full of gum resin in every part.