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Glite Dictionary
dhak

dhak

9.9
A tree from East India with bright orange-red, velvety flowers used to make yellow dye
  • noun
  • Indian
: dhak
  • The dhak tree produces stunning vermilion flowers that brighten the landscape.

Examples

  • Artisans use the bark of the dhak to create a vibrant yellow dye for fabrics.

  • During spring, the dhak blooms, attracting many visitors to the botanical garden.

  • These spots are called dhakil in Teenek, which means, according to my informants, a white place (dhak = "white"), colorless, insipid, as favored by the Baatsik.

    Academic text (2008)

Synonyms

dak
vsdhak
  • Indian
1 9.9

A tree in India with bright red flowers used to make yellow dye

is similar but stresses a more intense vermilion tone
palas
vsdhak
  • Indian
1 9.9

A tree from India with bright red flowers used to make a yellow dye

is the same species described under a different traditional name
Butea monosperma
vsdhak
  • Indian
1 9.9

A tree from South Asia with bright orange-red flowers used to make yellow dye

is described specifically as an East Indian tree with intense flowers and dye
Butea frondosa
vsdhak
  • Indian
9.9

A tree from India that has bright orange-red soft flowers and gives a yellow dye

is framed as a source of dye rather than focusing on production

Surface Forms

dhak singular
dhaks plural

Etymology

Dhak comes from the Hindi and Bengali name for a bright, red-orange tree often called the 'flame of the forest'. Because villagers used its vivid flowers to make a yellow dye, the name helps you remember that dhak means this colorful tree.