Balsam of Mecca

Balsam of Mecca
Balsam Bal"sam (b[add]l"sam), n. [L. balsamum the balsam tree or its resin, Gr. ba`lsamon. See {Balm}, n.] 1. A resin containing more or less of an essential or volatile oil. [1913 Webster]

Note: The balsams are aromatic resinous substances, flowing spontaneously or by incision from certain plants. A great variety of substances pass under this name, but the term is now usually restricted to resins which, in addition to a volatile oil, contain benzoic and cinnamic acid. Among the true balsams are the balm of Gilead, and the balsams of copaiba, Peru, and Tolu. There are also many pharmaceutical preparations and resinous substances, possessed of a balsamic smell, to which the name balsam has been given. [1913 Webster]

2. (Bot.) (a) A species of tree ({Abies balsamea}). (b) An annual garden plant ({Impatiens balsamina}) with beautiful flowers; balsamine. [1913 Webster]

3. Anything that heals, soothes, or restores. [1913 Webster]

Was not the people's blessing a balsam to thy blood? --Tennyson. [1913 Webster]

{Balsam apple} (Bot.), an East Indian plant ({Momordica balsamina}), of the gourd family, with red or orange-yellow cucumber-shaped fruit of the size of a walnut, used as a vulnerary, and in liniments and poultices.

{Balsam fir} (Bot.), the American coniferous tree, {Abies balsamea}, from which the useful Canada balsam is derived.

{Balsam of copaiba}. See {Copaiba}.

{Balsam of Mecca}, balm of Gilead.

{Balsam of Peru}, a reddish brown, syrupy balsam, obtained from a Central American tree ({Myroxylon Pereir[ae]} and used as a stomachic and expectorant, and in the treatment of ulcers, etc. It was long supposed to be a product of Peru.

{Balsam of Tolu}, a reddish or yellowish brown semisolid or solid balsam, obtained from a South American tree ({Myroxylon toluiferum}). It is highly fragrant, and is used as a stomachic and expectorant.

{Balsam tree}, any tree from which balsam is obtained, esp. the {Abies balsamea}.

{Canada balsam}, {Balsam of fir}, Canada turpentine, a yellowish, viscid liquid, which, by time and exposure, becomes a transparent solid mass. It is obtained from the balm of Gilead (or balsam) fir ({Abies balsamea}) by breaking the vesicles upon the trunk and branches. See {Balm}. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Balsam of Mecca — For other products called Balm of Gilead, see Balm of Gilead (disambiguation). Balm of Gilead (also called the balsam of Gilead or Balsam of Mecca) is a resinous gum of the tree Commiphora gileadensis (syn. Commiphora opobalsamum), native to… …   Wikipedia

  • Balsam — Bal sam (b[add]l sam), n. [L. balsamum the balsam tree or its resin, Gr. ba lsamon. See {Balm}, n.] 1. A resin containing more or less of an essential or volatile oil. [1913 Webster] Note: The balsams are aromatic resinous substances, flowing… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Balsam apple — Balsam Bal sam (b[add]l sam), n. [L. balsamum the balsam tree or its resin, Gr. ba lsamon. See {Balm}, n.] 1. A resin containing more or less of an essential or volatile oil. [1913 Webster] Note: The balsams are aromatic resinous substances,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Balsam fir — Balsam Bal sam (b[add]l sam), n. [L. balsamum the balsam tree or its resin, Gr. ba lsamon. See {Balm}, n.] 1. A resin containing more or less of an essential or volatile oil. [1913 Webster] Note: The balsams are aromatic resinous substances,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Balsam of copaiba — Balsam Bal sam (b[add]l sam), n. [L. balsamum the balsam tree or its resin, Gr. ba lsamon. See {Balm}, n.] 1. A resin containing more or less of an essential or volatile oil. [1913 Webster] Note: The balsams are aromatic resinous substances,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Balsam of fir — Balsam Bal sam (b[add]l sam), n. [L. balsamum the balsam tree or its resin, Gr. ba lsamon. See {Balm}, n.] 1. A resin containing more or less of an essential or volatile oil. [1913 Webster] Note: The balsams are aromatic resinous substances,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Balsam of Peru — Balsam Bal sam (b[add]l sam), n. [L. balsamum the balsam tree or its resin, Gr. ba lsamon. See {Balm}, n.] 1. A resin containing more or less of an essential or volatile oil. [1913 Webster] Note: The balsams are aromatic resinous substances,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Balsam of Tolu — Balsam Bal sam (b[add]l sam), n. [L. balsamum the balsam tree or its resin, Gr. ba lsamon. See {Balm}, n.] 1. A resin containing more or less of an essential or volatile oil. [1913 Webster] Note: The balsams are aromatic resinous substances,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Balsam tree — Balsam Bal sam (b[add]l sam), n. [L. balsamum the balsam tree or its resin, Gr. ba lsamon. See {Balm}, n.] 1. A resin containing more or less of an essential or volatile oil. [1913 Webster] Note: The balsams are aromatic resinous substances,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Balsam — is a term used for various pleasantly scented plant products. An oily or gummy oleoresin, usually containing benzoic acid or cinnamic acid, obtained from the exudates of various trees and shrubs and used as a base for some botanical medicines.… …   Wikipedia

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