資料來源 : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
Tacamahac \Tac"a*ma*hac`\, Tacamahaca \Tac`a*ma*ha"ca\, n.
1. A bitter balsamic resin obtained from tropical American
trees of the genus {Elaphrium} ({E. tomentosum} and {E.
Tacamahaca}), and also from East Indian trees of the genus
{Calophyllum}; also, the resinous exhudation of the balsam
poplar.
2. (Bot.) Any tree yielding tacamahac resin, especially, in
North America, the balsam poplar, or balm of Gilead
({Populus balsamifera}).
Balm \Balm\, n. [OE. baume, OF. bausme, basme, F. baume, L.
balsamum balsam, from Gr. ?; perhaps of Semitic origin; cf.
Heb. b[=a]s[=a]m. Cf. {Balsam}.]
1. (Bot.) An aromatic plant of the genus {Melissa}.
2. The resinous and aromatic exudation of certain trees or
shrubs. --Dryden.
3. Any fragrant ointment. --Shak.
4. Anything that heals or that mitigates pain. ``Balm for
each ill.'' --Mrs. Hemans.
{Balm cricket} (Zo["o]l.), the European cicada. --Tennyson.
{Balm of Gilead} (Bot.), a small evergreen African and
Asiatic tree of the terebinthine family ({Balsamodendron
Gileadense}). Its leaves yield, when bruised, a strong
aromatic scent; and from this tree is obtained the balm of
Gilead of the shops, or balsam of Mecca. This has a
yellowish or greenish color, a warm, bitterish, aromatic
taste, and a fragrant smell. It is valued as an unguent
and cosmetic by the Turks. The fragrant herb
{Dracocephalum Canariense} is familiarly called balm of
Gilead, and so are the American trees, {Populus
balsamifera}, variety candicans (balsam poplar), and
{Abies balsamea} (balsam fir).
資料來源 : WordNet®
Populus balsamifera
n : poplar of northeastern North America with broad heart-shaped
leaves [syn: {balsam poplar}, {hackmatack}, {tacamahac}]