1. A red or orange dye obtained from the wood of the brasilwood tree, historically used in textile dyeing.
Usage: archaic; chemistry/historical

Examples

• Brasilein was a valuable export from Brazil during the colonial period.
• The dyers extracted brasilein from brasilwood logs to create vibrant red fabrics.
• Historical records show that brasilein commanded high prices in European markets.
• The chemical structure of brasilein was studied extensively by 19th-century chemists.