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• balm-of-Gilead
  balm-of-Gilead

  noun

  any of several plants of the genus Commiphora, especially C. opobalsamum and C. meccanensis, which yield a fragrant oleoresin.
• balm of Gilead
  balm of Gilead

  noun

  any of several trees of the burseraceous genus Commiphora , esp C. opobalsamum of Africa and W Asia, that yield a fragrant oily resin Compare balm myrrh

balm-of-Gilead

American  

[bahm-uhv-gil-ee-uhd] / ˈbɑm əvˈgɪl i əd /

noun

1. any of several plants of the genus Commiphora, especially C. opobalsamum and C. meccanensis, which yield a fragrant oleoresin.

2. Also called Mecca balsam.  the resin itself, a turbid yellow, green, or brownish-red water-insoluble gluey liquid, used chiefly in perfumery.

3. a hybrid North American poplar, Populus gileadensis, cultivated as a shade tree.

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balm of Gilead British  

noun

1. any of several trees of the burseraceous genus Commiphora , esp C. opobalsamum of Africa and W Asia, that yield a fragrant oily resin Compare balm myrrh

2. the resin exuded by these trees

3. a North American hybrid female poplar tree, Populus gileadensis (or P. candicans ), with broad heart-shaped leaves

4. a fragrant resin obtained from the balsam fir See also Canada balsam

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Etymology

Origin of balm-of-Gilead

First recorded in 1695–1705

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

balm-of-Gilead balm of Gilead

Once in a long while you may see a balm-of-Gilead tree, or a clump of sapling poplars, planted near the door.

From Little Rivers; a book of essays in profitable idleness by Van Dyke, Henry

Beside the fruit trees there was a great umbrella-shaped catalpa, and a balm-of-Gilead, two lindens, and even a ginka,—a rigid, pointed tree with leaves shaped like butterflies, which shivered, but never bent to the wind.

From The Song of the Lark by Cather, Willa Sibert

We also cleared up the slope round it and set out borders of young pine and balm-of-Gilead trees.

From A Busy Year at the Old Squire's by Stephens, C. A. (Charles Asbury)

Nor was the enthusiasm of Billy's send-off balm-of-Gilead to his soul as the carriage moved away from the hotel steps.

From The Bachelors A Novel by Orcutt, William Dana

He said the balm-of-Gilead lint was much better than the linen lint.

From Our Young Folks at Home and Abroad by Dale, Daphne

The verdict would have been balm of Gilead to long-suffering Abolitionists.

From The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 14, No. 86, December, 1864 by Various

The balsam poplar is the balm of Gilead of the early settlers, the Tacamahac of the Northern Indians.

From Trees Worth Knowing by Rogers, Julia Ellen

I likewise treated the wounded eye with balsam-capeiva and balm of Gilead ointment, sovereign appliances for the bruises and cut fingers of that generation.

From When Grandmamma Was New The Story of a Virginia Childhood by Harland, Marion

Its leaves yield, when bruised, a strong aromatic scent; and from this tree is obtained the balm of Gilead of the shops, or balsam of Mecca.

From Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (2nd 100 Pages) by Webster, Noah

In a moment my arms were about him, my cheek on his wicked old head, and the applause that broke forth from the audience was as balm of Gilead to my distress and mortification.

From Stage Confidences by Morris, Clara