bdellium

American  

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

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

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

This contains litharge, bdellium, and "green brasse," but no loadstone.

From On the magnet, magnetick bodies also, and on the great magnet the earth a new physiology, demonstrated by many arguments & experiments by Gilbert, William

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

Amyridace�, species of which yield such balsamic or resinous substances as balm of Gilead, bdellium, myrrh, &c.

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

"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 Shaw, Bernard