elemi

[ el-uh-mee ]

noun

, plural el·e·mis.

1. any of various fragrant resins from certain trees, especially Canarium commune, used chiefly in the manufacture of varnishes, lacquers, ointments, and in perfumery.

elemi

/ ˈɛlɪmɪ /

noun

1. any of various fragrant resins obtained from tropical trees, esp trees of the family Burseraceae: used in making varnishes, ointments, inks, etc

Word History and Origins

Origin of elemi¹

1535–45; short for gum elemi < New Latin gummi elimī; compare Arabic allāmī the elemi

Word History and Origins

Origin of elemi¹

C16: via Spanish from Arabic al-lāmi the elemi

Example Sentences

They also used resin from elemi, a tree that grows in rainforests in Africa and Asia.

From Washington Post

Many of the resins had antimicrobial properties — one bowl containing elemi and animal fat was inscribed “to make his odour pleasant” — or characteristics that promoted preservation.

From Scientific American

The researchers also identified more exotic ingredients, including dammar and elemi, resins extracted from hardwoods native to Southeast Asian rainforests thousands of kilometers from ancient Egypt.

From Science Magazine

Some of the substances came from very far away — like dammar and elemi, types of resin that come from the tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia.

From Seattle Times

The best kind, known as elemi, are shipped at Smyrna, where the 333 pulling and packing of figs form one of the most important industries of the people.

From Project Gutenberg