camphor

Meaning

Noun

• A white transparent waxy crystalline isoprenoid ketone, 1,7,7-trimethylbicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-one, with a strong pungent odour, used in pharmacy.

Origin

• From Old French camphore or Medieval Latin camphora, from Arabic كَافُور, via an language such as Malay kapur from Sanskrit कर्पूर. It is possible that the Sanskrit term was borrowed from Malay rather than vice versa.