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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

The tension of their thoughts was too sharp; they turned for relief to the scene before them, stopping at the stile to look back at the steepled white church, standing under its spreading balm-of-Gilead tree.

From The Stolen Singer by Bellinger, Martha Idell Fletcher

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

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)

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

They were making it into five hay-cocks, which were arranged in a circle under a huge balm-of-Gilead tree.

From Five Mice in a Mouse-trap by the Man in the Moon. by Ledyard, Addie

And there is my lovely linden, and mother's balm of Gilead.

From Summerfield or, Life on a Farm by Lee, Day Kellogg

It is as the balm of Gilead; it is as a letter from home to the wanderer; it is as a mother's voice to the child.

From Heart Talks by Naylor, Charles Wesley

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

The air is full of birds, and sweet with the breath of the pine, the balm of Gilead, and the new hay.

From Ralph Waldo Emerson by Holmes, Oliver Wendell

For this Thome mixed a remedy as generous as the balm of Gilead itself.

From Letters on Demonology and Witchcraft by Scott, Walter, Sir