Etymology

gamboge

gam·boge
G2A1M3B3O1G2E1

Today it means: Any of several species of trees of the genus Garcinia found in South and Southeastern Asia, especially Garcinia xanthochymus. Full definition →

First used early 18th c.New Latin gambogium
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The story

  1. New Latin · derived fromGambogia
  2. New Latin · derived fromgambogium
  3. English todaygamboge

From New Latin gambogium, cambogium (“resin from trees used to make yellow dye”), from New Latin Gambogia, Cambogia (“Cambodia”). The Latin word was first attested in English as a colour in 1634. Doublet of Cambodia and Kampuchea.

First known use, by meaning

  • from early 18th c. The resin of the gamboge tree; a preparation of the resin used as a pigment or for medicinal purposes.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.