Măs'tic, n.

n. [Fr. mastic, Pr. mastic, mastec, It. mastice, mastico, mastica, mastrice, L. Lat. mastix, Lat. mastiche, mastichum, Gr. μαστίχη, from μασάω, to chew, because of its being used for chewing in the East; Sp. masticis, almáciga, Pg. mastique, almécega, D. mastik, Ger. mastic.] [Written also mastic.]

1Sense 1. (Bot.) A low, shrubby tree of the genus Pistacia (P. lentiscus), growing upon the islands and coasts of the Mediterranean, and producing a valuable resin; — called also mastic-tree.

2Sense 2. A resin exuding from the mastic-tree, and obtained by incision. It is in yellowish-white, semi-transparent tears, of a faint smell, and is used as an astringent and an aromatic. It is used also as an ingredient in drying varnishes.

3Sense 3. A kind of cement composed of burnt clay, litharge, and linseed oil, and used for plastering walls, &c.

4Sense 4. (Bot.) A low evergreen shrub of the genus Thymus (T. mastichina). London.