Also champacka, tsjambac, champak, chumpak, -puc. [a. Hind. champak, Bengali champaka, Skr. châmpākā, and allied Indian vernacular forms.]
A species of Magnolia (Michelia Champaca), a beautiful Indian tree, bearing orange-colored highly fragrant flowers; held in high esteem by the natives of India.
c. 1770. Sir W. Jones, Bot. Observ., Wks. 1807, V. 129. The strong aromatick scent of the gold-coloured Champac is thought offensive to the bees, who are never seen on its blossoms.
1772–84. Cook, Voy. (1790), I. 283. The champacka smells somewhat like a jonquil.
1815. Moore, Lalla R. (1862), 25. Blest again to hold In her fuil lap the champac’s leaves of gold.
1819. Shelley, Lines to Ind. Air. The Champak odours fail.
1839. Penny Cycl., XIV. 290/2. In Bengal the air is often perfumed with the fragrance of the Tsjambac.
1879. E. Arnold, Lt. Asia, II. (1881), 24. Pleasant at seed-time, when the champaks bud.
