balm early 13c., basme, aromatic substance made from resins and oils, from O.Fr. basme (Mod.Fr. baume), from L. balsamum, from Gk. balsamon "balsam," from Heb. basam "spice," related to Aramaic busma, Arabic basham "balsam, spice, perfume." Spelling refashioned 15c.-16c. on Latin model. Sense of "healing or soothing influence" (1540s) is from aromatic preparations from balsam (see balsam). Biblical Balm of Gilead, however, began with Coverdale; the Hebrew word there is tsori, which was rendered in Septuagint and Vulgate as "resin" (Gk. rhetine, L. resina). balmy c.1500, "delicately fragrant," from balm + -y (2). Figurative use for "soothing" dates from c.1600; of breezes, air, etc. "mild, fragrant" (combining both earlier senses) it is first attested 1704. Meaning "weak-minded, idiotic," 1851, is from London slang. embalm (v.) mid-14c., from M.Fr. embaumer "preserve (a corpse) with spices," from en- "in" (see en- (1)) + baume "balm" (see balm) + -er verbal suffix. The -l- inserted in English 1500s in imitation of Latin. Related: Embalmed; embalming. balsam 1570s, "aromatic resin used for healing wounds and soothing pains," from L. balsamum "gum of the balsam tree" (see balm). There is an isolated O.E. reference from c.1000, and M.E. used basme, baume, from the French form of the word. As a type of flowering plant of the Impatiens family, it is attested from 1741. chrism "oil mingled with balm," O.E. chrisma, from Church L. chrisma, from Gk. khrisma "an unguent, anointing, unction," from khriein "to anoint," from PIE root *ghrei- "to rub." Chrisom "baptismal robe," is a c.1200 variant of this. lip (n.) O.E. lippa, from P.Gmc. *lepjon (cf. O.Fris. lippa, M.Du. lippe, Du. lip, O.H.G. lefs, Ger. Lefze, Swed. läpp, Dan. læbe), from PIE *leb- "to lick; lip" (cf. L. labium). French lippe is from a Germanic source. Transferred sense of "edge or margin of a cup, etc." is from 1590s. Slang sense "saucy talk" is from 1821, probably from move the lip (1570s) "utter even the slightest word (against someone)." To bite (one's) lip "show vexation" is from early 14c. Stiff upper lip as a sign of courage is from 1833. Lip gloss is attested from 1939; lip balm from 1877. Related: Lips.
Gilead Biblical site (Gen. xxxi:21, etc.), traditionally from the name of a grandson of Manasseh, perhaps from Aramaic gal "heap of stones." balm early 13c., basme, aromatic substance made from resins and oils, from O.Fr. basme (Mod.Fr. baume), from L. balsamum, from Gk. balsamon "balsam," from Heb. basam "spice," related to Aramaic busma, Arabic basham "balsam, spice, perfume." Spelling refashioned 15c.-16c. on Latin model. Sense of "healing or soothing influence" (1540s) is from aromatic preparations from balsam (see balsam). Biblical Balm of Gilead, however, began with Coverdale; the Hebrew word there is tsori, which was rendered in Septuagint and Vulgate as "resin" (Gk. rhetine, L. resina).
&
Gilead Biblical site (Gen. xxxi:21, etc.), traditionally from the name of a grandson of Manasseh, perhaps from Aramaic gal "heap of stones." balm early 13c., basme, aromatic substance made from resins and oils, from O.Fr. basme (Mod.Fr. baume), from L. balsamum, from Gk. balsamon "balsam," from Heb. basam "spice," related to Aramaic busma, Arabic basham "balsam, spice, perfume." Spelling refashioned 15c.-16c. on Latin model. Sense of "healing or soothing influence" (1540s) is from aromatic preparations from balsam (see balsam). Biblical Balm of Gilead, however, began with Coverdale; the Hebrew word there is tsori, which was rendered in Septuagint and Vulgate as "resin" (Gk. rhetine, L. resina).
