ETYM Old Eng. camfere, French camphre (cf. Italian canfora, Spanish camfora, alcanfor, Late Lat. canfora, camphora, NGr. kafoyra), from Arabic kâfűr, prob. from Skr. karpűra.
C10H16O volatile, aromatic ketone substance obtained from the camphor tree Cinnamomum camphora. It is distilled from chips of the wood, and is used in insect repellents and medicinal inhalants and liniments, and in the manufacture of celluloid.
The camphor tree, a member of the family Lauraceae, is native to China, Taiwan, and Japan.
A resin obtained from the camphor tree; used in making celluloid and liniment.