balm

English

Borrowed from Anglo-Norman and Middle French baume, from Old French basme, from Latin balsamum, itself from Ancient Greek βάλσαμον (bálsamon). Spelling modified 16th c. to conform to Latin etymology. Doublet of balsam.

balm (countable and uncountable, plural balms)

Any of various aromatic resins exuded from certain plants, especially trees of the genus Commiphora of Africa, Arabia and India and Myroxylon of South America.
A plant or tree yielding such substance.
Any soothing oil or lotion, especially an aromatic one.
There is a balm in Gilead... (Spiritual)
(figuratively) Something soothing.
Classical music is a sweet balm for our sorrows.
- 1781, [Mostyn John Armstrong], History and Antiquities of the County of Norfolk. Volume IX. Containing the Hundreds of Smithdon, Taverham, Tunstead, Walsham, and Wayland, volume IX, Norwich: Printed by J. Crouse, for M. Booth, bookseller, OCLC 520624543, page 51:
  BEAT on, proud billows; Boreas blow; / Swell, curled waves, high as Jove's roof; / Your incivility doth ſhow, / That innocence is tempeſt proof; / Though ſurly Nereus frown, my thoughts are calm; / Then ſtrike, Affliction, for thy wounds are balm. [Attributed to Roger L'Estrange (1616–1704).]
The lemon balm, Melissa officinalis
Any of a number of other aromatic herbs with a similar citrus-like scent, such as bee balm and horse balm.

sweet-smelling oil or resin derived from some plants — see balsam

plant or tree yielding such substance — see balsam

soothing lotion — see balsam

figurative: something soothing — see balsam

plant of the genus Melissa

balm (third-person singular simple present balms, present participle balming, simple past and past participle balmed)

(transitive, archaic) To anoint with balm, or with anything medicinal.
- c. 1607–1608, Shakespeare, William; [Wilkins, George], Pericles, Prince of Tyre, act 3, scene 2, lines 63–64:
  Shrouded in cloth of state, balmed and entreasured / With full bags of spices!
(transitive, figuratively) To soothe; to mitigate.
- c. 1603–1606, Shakespeare, William, King Lear, act 3, scene 6, line 96:
  This rest might yet have balmed thy broken sinews

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