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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
translation icon : 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
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 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
Butea monosperma
vsdhak
  • Indian
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

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.