gutta-percha

Gum obtained from certain trees native to Borneo, Malaysia, and New Guinea, and upon boiling, is very pliable, fibrous, though not as elastic as "rubber," but a better insulator and harder when set. It sets faster than "caoutchouc," which must be heated far longer. It is used, for example, for dental devices, golf balls, electrical wiring, and, especially during the second half of the 19th century, for toys and dolls.