benzoin

English

Etymology

From Middle French benjoin, from Catalan benjuí, from Arabic لُبَان جَاوِيّ (lubān jāwiyy, “Javanese frankincense”). The first word is from Proto-West Semitic *laban- (“white”), the second from جاوة (jāwa, “Java”) (from Javanese ꦗꦮ (jawa)).

The initial lu was probably lost because it was taken as the definite article in Romance. Compare oliban.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈbɛnzəʊɪn/, /ˈbɛnzɔɪn/

  • Audio (Southern England):

    (file)

• Rhymes: -ɛnzəʊɪn, -ɛnzɔɪn

Noun

benzoin (countable and uncountable, plural benzoins)

1. A resinous substance, dry and brittle, obtained from Styrax benzoin, a tree of Sumatra, Java, etc., having a fragrant odor, and slightly aromatic taste. It is used in the preparation of benzoic acid, in medicine, and as a perfume. [from 16th c.]
   • 1627 (indicated as 1626), Francis [Bacon], “(please specify the page, or |century=I to X)”, in Sylua Syluarum: Or A Naturall Historie. In Ten Centuries. […], London: […] William Rawley […]; [p]rinted by J[ohn] H[aviland] for William Lee […], →OCLC:

     These following bodies do not draw: smaragd, achates, corneolus, pearl, jaspis, chalcedonius, alabaster, porphyry, coral, marble, touchstone, haematites, or bloodstone; smyris, ivory, bones, ebontree, cedar, cypress, pitch, softer rosin, camphire, galbanum, ammoniac, storax, benzoin, loadstone, asphaltum.

   • 1936, Rollo Ahmed, The Black Art, London: Long, page 112:

     Aromatics were used, too, especially in necromancy, and an old recipe of that sort comprises Musk, Myrrh, Frankincense, Red Storax, Mastick, Olibanum, Saffron, Benzoin and Labdanum.

2. (organic chemistry) An aromatic hydroxy ketone, 2-hydroxy-1,2-di(phenyl)ethanone, synthesized from benzaldehyde; any derivative of this compound. [from 19th c.]
3. The spicebush, Lindera benzoin. [from 19th c.]

Derived terms

• benjamin
• benzene
• benzoic
• benzoinated
• deoxybenzoin
• flowers of benzoin
• furoin

 

Related terms

• benjamin

Translations

resinous substance from tree

• Arabic: لُبَان جَاوِيّ m (lubān jāwiyy)
• Catalan: benjuí m
• French: benjoin (fr) m
• German: Benzoe (de) f
• Greek: βενζόη (el) f (venzói)
• Hindi: गूगल (hi) m (gūgal), गुग्गुल (hi) m (guggul)
• Hungarian: benzoe (hu)
• Indonesian: kemenyan (id)
• Italian: benzoe m
• Polish: będźwin m (archaic), benzoes m, styraks (pl) m
• Portuguese: beijoim m
• Spanish: benjuí m
• Thai: กำยาน (th) (gam-yaan)

white crystalline substance

• French: benzoïne f
• Greek: βενζόη (el) f (venzói)
• Hindi: गूगल (hi) m (gūgal), गुग्गुल (hi) m (guggul)
• Polish: benzoina f

spicebush — see spicebush

Anagrams

• Benzion