benzoin, benzoine, belzoin, benzoil, benjamin

[In Sw. ben zoe; Ger. benzoebaum, the tree, and benzoe, benzoin, the gum; Fr. benjoin; Sp. benjui; Port. beijoim; Ital. belzuino. Mahn suggests comparison (1) with Pers. banâst, bin asât, ban ásub, banásib = terebinth resin, from ban wan = terebinth grain, asab = an excrescence on the body; and (2) with wanizad = turpentine of the pistachio-tree. Benjamin is a corruption of benzoin, and not benzoin a corruption of benjamin. All the chemical words beginning with benz are derived from this word, as benzoic acid was first obtained from the gum.] 1. ( Generally of the corrupted form benjamin.) Botany, Comm., . A kind of resin obtained from a tree, the Styraz benzoin , which belongs to the order Ebenaceae (Ebenads). It grows in Sumatra, Borneo, and the adjacent islands. Incisions are made in the tree from which the resin exudes, the latter when it comes being left to dry, and then being removed by a knife. Each tree yields annually about three pounds of resin. It is used as a medicine in chronic diseases of the lungs, as an ingredient in perfumery, and in the incense of Roman Catholic and Ritualist churches. [STYRAX.] "Belzoin or benzoin is the rosin of a tree."-Turner: Herbal, pt. ii. 2. ( Of the form benzoin, never benjamin.) (1) Bot . A genus of plants belonging to the order Lauraceæ (Laurels). The species are found in North A in eric a and in Nepaul. The berries of Benzoin odoriferum yield an aromatic stimulant oil. They are said to have been used during one of the American wars as a substitute for allspice. (Treas. of Bot .) (2) Phar.: Asa dulcis as opposed to A. fœtid a . [ASA.] (3) Chem.: C14H1902. A polymeric modification of benzoic aldehyde, which remains in the retort when the crude oil is distilled with lime or iron oxide to free it from hydrocyanic acid.