galbanum

[ gal-buh-nuhm ]

noun

1. a gum resin with a peculiar, strong odor, obtained from certain Asian plants of the genus Ferula, used in incense and formerly in medicine.

galbanum

/ ˈɡælbənəm /

noun

1. a bitter aromatic gum resin extracted from any of several Asian umbelliferous plants of the genus Ferula, esp F. galbaniflua, and used in incense and medicinally as a counterirritant

Word History and Origins

Origin of galbanum¹

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin; akin to Greek chalbánē, Hebrew chelbenāh

Word History and Origins

Origin of galbanum¹

C14: from Latin, from Greek khalbanē, from Hebrew helbenāh

Example Sentences

"Her hair smells like a memory from my childhood - civet, costus and musk with cumin, pepper, coconut water and spicy green galbanum."

From New York Times

It was originally prepared by fusing certain resins, such as galbanum, asafœtida, &c., with caustic alkali.

From Project Gutenberg

Umbelliferone or 4-oxycoumarin, occurs in the bark of Daphne mezereum and may be obtained by distilling such resins as galbanum or asafoetida.

From Project Gutenberg

A plaster may also be made of sal ammoniac and some galbanum, which well kneaded together and applied, seldom fails of destroying them.

From Project Gutenberg

The sticky plasters, made of galbanum or pitch, and which are known as "heroic" measures, are equally undesirable, since they are not permanent cures any more than the depilatory powders.

From Project Gutenberg