See Also: balm(medicine)
lip balm(dictionary)
balm(dictionary)
balm(1)(dictionary)
balm(2)(dictionary)
bee balm(encyclopedia)
balm(encyclopedia)
Balm of Gilead(medicine)
balm-cricket(dictionary)
sweet balm(medicine)

balm(1) (iou)



balm noun1. [b¨»:m] ME.
[Old French ba(s)me from Latin balsamum BALSAM noun.]
A fragrant and medicinal exudation from certain trees (see sense 5 below). ME.
An aromatic preparation for embalming. ME-E17.
Fragrant oil or ointment; fig. fragrance, perfume. LME.
Shakespeare Richard II Not all the water in the rough rude sea Can wash the balm from an anointed king. J. Thomson When nought but balm is breathing thro' the woods.
Aromatic ointment used for soothing pain or healing wounds; fig. a healing or soothing influence, consolation. LME.
Milton As Balm to fester'd wounds. D. Welch The stillness in the room was balm. A. Storr No amount of recognition could have brought balm to that tortured soul.
A tree yielding a fragrant and medicinal exudation; esp. an Asian and N. African tree of the genus Commiphora (family Burseraceae). LME.
Any of various fragrant herbs; spec. (more fully lemon balm) a labiate herb, Melissa officinalis, with lemon-scented leaves. LME.
Phrases etc.: balm in Gilead [Jer. 8:22] comfort in distress, succour. balm of Gilead [balm in Coverdale Genesis 37:25, earlier rendered resin] (a) (a fragrant medicinal gum from) any of various trees, spec. of the genus Commiphora; (b) a balsam poplar, Populus candicans; (c) balm of Gilead fir = balsam fir s.v. BALSAM noun. bastard balm a labiate herb of European woodland, Melittis melissophyllum, with leaves smelling of new-mown hay. MOLUCCA balm.
Comb.: balm-apple = balsam apple s.v. BALSAM noun.