Balata, a vegetable gum used as a substitute for gutta-percha, being at once ductile and elastic; goes under the name of bully.

Bal"a*ta (?), n. [Sp., prob. fr. native name.] 1. A West Indian sapotaceous tree (Bumelia retusa).

2. The bully tree (Minusops globosa); also, its milky juice (

balata gum), which when dried constitutes an elastic gum called chicle, or chicle gum.

Bal"a*ta (?), n. [Sp., prob. fr. native name.] 1. A West Indian sapotaceous tree (Bumelia retusa).

2. The bully tree (Minusops globosa); also, its milky juice (

balata gum), which when dried constitutes an elastic gum called chicle, or chicle gum.