the wood of the oriental caesalpinia sapan; -- so called before the discovery of america.-a very heavy wood of a reddish color, imported from brazil and other tropical countries, for cabinet-work, and for dyeing. the best is the heartwood of caesalpinia echinata, a leguminous tree; but other trees also yield it. an inferior sort comes from jamaica, the timber of c. braziliensis and c. crista. this is often distinguished as braziletto , but the better kind is also frequently so named.