dragon's blood

Noun

dragon's blood (uncountable)

1. A bright red resin, obtained from different species of a number of distinct plants Calamus rotang and genera Croton, Dracaena, Daemonorops, and Pterocarpus, used in the manufacture of varnishes, lacquers, medicines, and incenses.
   • For black magic, assafœtida, garlic, dragon's blood, sulphur, and such-like vile-smelling concoctions were used.1936, Rollo Ahmed, The Black Art, London: Long, page 155
   • Another ancient vegetable relic surviving in Macaronesia is the legendary dragon tree, whose sap, marketed as dragon’s blood, was in past times much prized as a medicine, as incense and as a dye.2018, Tim Flannery, Europe: A Natural History, page 97

   Synonyms:

   cinnabar