ڈهاك

ढाक ḍhāk[prob. fr. S. दिक्षor धक, rt. दɯ], s.m. The Butea frondosa (syn. palās. The tree in full bloom presents a striking spectacle, like fire on the horizon; from natural fissures and incisions made in the bark, issues, during the hot season, a red juice, which soon hardens into a ruby-coloured, brittle, astringent gum, similar to kino, and sold as Bengal kino; lac is collected on the branchlets; the leaves are used as plates, etc., and instead of paper, to wrap up parcels, and are given as fodder to buffaloes; the flowers, with alum, are made into the yellow dye used in the Holīfestival, and are also used medicinally; the seeds are given as purgative and anthelmintic, mostly in veterinary practice; the wood is used for coating wells, and for the sacrificial fire):—ḍhāk-paććhīor paćhe, s.m. The person who collects the gum from ḍhāktrees.