[a. Sp. copal (F. copal, copale), ad. Mexican copalli incense (Molina, 1571), a fragrant translucent white resin which distils from a tree, thence called copalquahuitl, also by extension applied to any similar resin (Hernandez, 1651, III. i.).]
1. A hard translucent odoriferous resin obtained from various tropical trees, and from which a fine transparent varnish is prepared.
The name was first applied to that obtained from Mexico; but copal is now procured also from Brazil, the West Indies, W. Africa, Mozambique and Zanzibar, Madagascar, India, Manila, New Caledonia, and New Zealand. That from East Africa is most highly valued, and is often dug from the ground in a semi-fossilized condition. For list of Copals, see R. Ingham Clark, Varnishes and Fossil Resins, 1891.
1577. Frampton, Joyful News, 2. They doe bryng from the Newe Spaine [Mexico] twoo kindes of Rosine … the one is called Copall.
1613. Purchas, Pilgrimage, VIII. xiii. 678. They brought also Copalli, a sweete gumme, to incense the Gods.
1657. Phys. Dict., Copal, white rosin, very bright.
1712. E. Cooke, Voy. S. Sea, 390. Liquid Amber, Anime, Copal, Suchicopal, and other Gums.
1843. Prescott, Mexico, I. vi. (1864), 61. Offering up no other sacrifice than the sweet incense of copal.
1859. Gullick & Timbs, Paint., 211. Copal forms the efficient substitute for amber in the modern vehicle of painting.
b. Fossil copal: = COPALITE; also the semi-fossilized copal of Zanzibar.
1815. Aikin, Manual of Min. (ed. 2), 64.
1839. J. F. W. Johnston, in Phil. Mag., Ser. III. XIV. 87.
1863–82. Watts, Dict. Chem., II. 21. Copalin, Fossil copal, Highgate resin.
1883. Fisheries Exhib. Catal. (ed. 4), 118. Collection of Anime Fossil Copal, from the beach of the east coast of Africa.
2. attrib., as copal amber, resin, tree, varnish. Copal balsam = COPALM balsam.
1828. Stark, Elem. Nat. Hist., II. 392. The amber itself … may have had a similar origin with the copal amber which exudes from the Vateria Indica of Linnæus when cut.
1828. G. W. Bridges, Ann. Jamaica, II. xiii. 125. Burning branches of the copal tree.
1833. J. Rennie, Alph. Angling, 64. Rods … stained and varnished … with copal varnish.
1863–82. Watts, Dict. Chem., Copalin … resembles copal resin in hardness, colour, lustre, and transparency.
