Definition of "brazil"

brazil

/bɹə.ˈzɪl/

noun
plural brazils
1. (obsolete) A red-orange dye obtained from brazil wood.
  Quotations
  A small Quantity of Saffron will Tinct more then a very great Quantity of Brasil.
  1627, Francis Bacon, Sylva sylvarum
2. The hard, brown wood of a certain species of the tribe Caesalpinieae; originally sappan (Biancaea sappan), of the East Indies, and later brazilwood, Paubrasilia echinata.
  Quotations
  The Prouince Brasilia tooke his name of the woode called Brasill.
  1594, Thomas Blundeville, Exercises
  Thou know'st my brittle temper's prone to break.Are my bones brazil or my flesh of oak?
  1886, Francis Quarles, Emblems
  [P]ernambucco – the finest brasil from Brazil, so strong it almost resembles iron – became the favoured material for good bows.
  2002, Victoria Finlay, Colour, Sceptre, published 2003, page 198
3. A Brazil nut.
4. A seam of coal containing iron pyrites