bdellium

American  

[del-ee-uhm, -yuhm] / ˈdɛl i əm, -jəm /

noun

1. a fragrant gum resin obtained from certain plants of the genus Commiphora, family Burseraceae, especially the sub-Saharan trees C. africana and C. wightii.

2. a plant yielding a fragrant gum resin.

3. a substance mentioned in the Bible.

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bdellium British  

/ ˈdɛlɪəm /

noun

1. any of several African or W Asian trees of the burseraceous genus Commiphora that yield a gum resin

2. the aromatic gum resin, similar to myrrh, produced by any of these trees

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Etymology

Origin of bdellium

From Latin, from Greek bdéllion, probably from a Semitic word akin to Hebrew bedhōlah, the name of a fragrant yellowish transparent gum

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

bdellium

Or take bdellium flowers, half an ounce, and with oil of roses make a liniment.

From The Works of Aristotle the Famous Philosopher Containing his Complete Masterpiece and Family Physician; his Experienced Midwife, his Book of Problems and his Remarks on Physiognomy by Aristotle

Boil all these together in honey and water and make a plaster, and make pessaries of gum galbanum, bdellium, ammoniac, figs, pig's fat and honey.

From The Works of Aristotle the Famous Philosopher Containing his Complete Masterpiece and Family Physician; his Experienced Midwife, his Book of Problems and his Remarks on Physiognomy by Aristotle

The bdellium mentioned in Gen. ii, 12, was apparently a precious stone, perhaps a pearl.

From The New Gresham Encyclopedia. Vol. 1 Part 3 Atrebates to Bedlis by Various

Among the spices exported, the most celebrated wore bdellium, and the juncus odoratus or odoriferous bulrush.

From The Seven Great Monarchies Of The Ancient Eastern World, Vol 6. (of 7): Parthia The History, Geography, And Antiquities Of Chaldaea, Assyria, Babylon, Media, Persia, Parthia, And Sassanian or New Persian Empire; With Maps and Illustrations. by Rawlinson, George

The "bdellium" mentioned by Moses in Genesis is a perfuming gum, resembling frankincense, if not identical with it.

From The Art of Perfumery And Methods of Obtaining the Odors of Plants by Piesse, George William Septimus