noun
- Plural of brazil; a tropical hardwood tree or the reddish dye obtained from its wood, historically used in textile production.
Usage: historical; often capitalized when referring to the country Brazil or its association with the dye trade
Examples
- Medieval dyers prized brasils for the rich red and purple hues they produced.
- The merchant ships carried cargoes of brasils from the New World to European ports.
- Brasils were among the most valuable exports during the colonial period.
- The demand for brasils drove early exploration and trade routes across the Atlantic.