noun
- An astringent extract obtained from the heartwood of an East Indian tree, used in tanning leather and dyeing textiles.
Usage: Also called catechu or cutch; Primarily used in industrial and textile contexts
Examples
- Gambier was historically important in the leather tanning industry.
- The textile mill imported gambier from Southeast Asia for dyeing fabrics.
- Gambier contains tannins that help preserve and color leather products.
- Traditional dyers still use gambier to achieve certain earth tones in cloth.