balsam fir

American  

noun

1. a North American fir, Abies balsamea, having dark purplish cones and yielding Canada balsam.

2. the wood of this tree.

3. any of certain other firs.

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balsam fir British  

noun

1. Also called: balsam.   Canada balsam..  a fir tree, Abies balsamea , of NE North America, that yields Canada balsam See also balm of Gilead

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Etymology

Origin of balsam fir

An Americanism dating back to 1795–1805

Example Sentences

Home Depot’s Grand Duchess, an artificial, 7.5-foot balsam fir that comes with 250 color-changing lights, became known as “the viral Christmas tree” on TikTok.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 2, 2023

Mr. Dennis mainly harvests balsam fir, supplemented with cedar, pine and juniper.

From New York Times • Dec. 12, 2022

The cubed porcelain floor tiles in wood-grained, wire-brushed balsam fir from Daltile were one of the design elements that hiked the budget.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 18, 2019

Peterson said the park’s balsam fir trees, the preferred food for moose during winter, are being overeaten.

From Washington Times • Apr. 18, 2017

The balsam fir is almost indistinguishable from the Norway spruce when young, but soon grows apart from it in habit, and is hardly as desirable, even though a native.

From Getting Acquainted with the Trees by McFarland, J. Horace (John Horace)