benzoin

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun gum resin used especially in treating skin irritation
  2. noun used in some classifications for the American spicebush and certain other plants often included in the genus Lindera

Etymology

From Middle French benjoin, from Catalan benjuí, from Arabic لُبَان جَاوِيّ (lubān jāwiyy, “Javanese frankincense”). The first word is from Proto-West Semitic *laban- (“white”), the second from جاوة (jāwa, “Java”) (from Javanese ꦗꦮ (jawa)). The initial lu was probably lost because it was taken as the definite article in Romance. Compare oliban.

In classic literature

Synonyms

gum benzoin, benjamin, gum benjamin, asa dulcis

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