Also 7–8 tacamahacca, 8 tacamahack, 8 taccamahac, tacamacha, tacka mohacca. [ad. obs. Sp. tacamahaca, in Hernandez 1614 thecomahaca, ad. Aztec tecomahiyac; mod.Sp. tacamaca. Cf. Monardes 1579 ‘ex Nova Hispania … ab Indis tacamahaca vocatum.’ In F. tacamaque. Tacamahac is the more usual form, and that recognized in North America in sense 2.]
1. An aromatic resin, used for incense, and formerly extensively in medicine. a. orig. That yielded by a Mexican tree, Bursera (Elaphrium) tomentosa. b. Extended in the West Indies and S. America to similar resins obtained from other species of Bursera and the allied genus Protium, and subsequently to resins imported from Madagascar, Bourbon, and the East Indies, chiefly the product of species of Calophyllum.
1577. Frampton, Joyful News, I. 3. Gumme called Tacamahaca.
1616. Bullokar, Eng. Expos., Taramahaca, a Rosin brought out of the West Indies, of great vertue against any cold humours [etc.].
1703. Lond. Gaz., No. 3898/3. The Cargo of the Galeon…, consisting of … Jollop, Gum Elemni, Tacka Mohacca,… &c.
1714. Fr. Bk. of Rates, 92. Gum call’d Tacamacha p. 100 Weight 05 05.
1718. Quincy, Compl. Disp., 137. Tacamahack is a resinous Gum, from the West Indies.
1747. Wesley, Prim. Physick (1762), 108. Apply to the Cheek Gum Tacamahac spread on Silk.
1802. Naval Chron., VIII. 150. (I. of France) Tacamahaca, stinking wood.
1846. Lindley, Veg. Kingd., 460. Tacamahac from Elaphrium tomentosum. Ibid., 401. The true East India Tacamahaca is produced by Calophyllum Calaba.
2. The resin of the buds of the N. American Balsam Poplar, Populus balsamifera; hence a name of this tree.
1739. Miller, Gard. Dict. (ed. 3), II. Addenda, s.v., The Tacamahaca. This Tree grows spontaneously on the Continent of America. Ibid. (1759), (ed. 7), s.v. Populus, The Buds of this Tree are covered with a glutinous Resin, which smells very strong, and this is the Tacamahacca used in the Shops.
1786. J. Abercrombie, Arrangem., in Gard. Assist., 32/1. Tacamahacca, or great balsam poplar.
1842. Selby, Brit. Forest Trees, 213. The list of Tacamahacs mentioned by Loudon.
1846. Lindley, Veg. Kingd., 255. Poplar buds, especially those of P[opulus] nigra, balsamifera, and candicans, are besmeared in winter with a resinous … exudation, which [passes] under the name of Tacamahac.
1881. trans. Verne’s Fur Country, 95. Jaspar also noticed the tacamahac, a species of poplar which grows to a great height.
