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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

bdellium

They were brimful of myrobalan, bdellium, saffron, and violets.

From Salammbo by Gustave Flaubert

"When we are apart I always imagine your face as a face of gold, with eyes and teeth of bdellium, or chalcedony, or agate, or any wonderful unknown stones of appropriate colors."

From An Unsocial Socialist by Bernard Shaw

Aveley is Havilah, where the gold is good, and where there is bdellium, if we only knew where to look for it.

From Father Payne by Arthur Christopher Benson

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 George Rawlinson

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

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