1. orig. The Terebinth, Pistacia Terebinthus (N. O. Anacardiaceæ), the source of Chian or Cyprian turpentine.
1562. Turner, Herbal, II. 29. Amongest other rosynes, it of ye turpentinetre is best. Ibid., 151. I call it Turpentine tre, because Turpentine cometh oute of it.
1615. G. Sandys, Trav., 176. Some two miles from the City … there groweth a Turpentine-tree yet flourishing.
1726. Leoni, Alberti’s Archit., II. 6/2. The Turpentine-tree near Hebron, which was reported to have stood from the creation of the world to the days of Josephus.
1728. Bradley, Dict. Bot., s.v. Terebinthus, The Broader-leav’d Turpentine-Tree. Ibid., The Narrow-leav’d Turpentine-Tree.
1869. H. Snow, Theocritus, Epigr., i. Notes (1873), 214. The terebinth or turpentine-tree (Pistachia Terebinthus), is often mentioned in the Bible, under the names of oak or terebinth.
2. Any tree yielding turpentine, esp. species of pine and fir, as the Larch, Abies Larix, which yields Venice turpentine; Bursera gummifera (N. O. Amyridaceæ), of the West Indies; in Australia, species of Eucalyptus, Syncarpia, and Tristania; in New Zealand, the Tarata (Morris).
1726. Leoni, Alberti’s Archit., I. 26/2. I do not know any Wood that is to be preferr’d to the Larch, or Turpentine Tree.
1818. Oxley, Jrnls. Two Exped. N. S. Wales (1820), 331. The timber was chiefly … stringy bark, turpentine tree, and forest oak.
1856. Treas. Bot., Turpentine-tree, Pistacia Terebinthus; also Bursera gummifera. —, Australian, Tristania albicans.
1889. J. H. Maiden, Usefl. Native Plants Australia, 493. Eucalyptus microcorys … North of Port Jackson it bears the name of ‘Turpentine Tree,’ and ‘Forest Mahogany.’ Ibid., 523. Eucalyptus Stuartiana … frequently called ‘Turpentine Tree,’ or ‘Peppermint Tree.’
