Dragon's Blood
Preserved but no longer current.
A picturesque name given to no more awesome substance than the red resinous exudation from the fruits of a number of palms. It was formerly used as an astringent in medicine, and is still employed as a colour- ing matter for varnishes.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Dragon's Blood” mean?
A picturesque name given to no more awesome substance than the red resinous exudation from the fruits of a number of palms. It was formerly used as an astringent in medicine, and is still employed as a colour- ing matter for varnishes.
Is “Dragon's Blood” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.