Also 6 benn, 7 behen. [a. Arab. bān, ‘the ben-tree’ (Lane). The form behen is due to confusion with another word.] The winged seed of the Horse-radish tree (Moringa pterygosperma); also called ben-nut.
1559. Morwyng, Evonym., 239. The fruites of Ben … are round about Gonna plenteously.
1601. Holland, Pliny, I. 374. The Egyptian Ben is more oleous and fat.
1769. Sir J. Hill, Fam. Herbal (1812), 33. Ben-Nut-Tree … an Arabian tree.
1783. Ainsworth, Lat. Dict. (Morell), II. Myrobalanum … myrobalan, Ben, or a fruit of Egypt, about the bigness of a filberd.
1866. Treas. Bot., 756. The seeds of … the Horse-radish tree are winged, and are called Ben-nuts.
b. Oil of Ben: oil obtained from the ben-nut.
1594. Plat, Jewell-ho., II. 16. The oile of Benn … is made of the Italian nuts.
1736. Bailey, Houshold Dict., 268. The oil of Ben has no smell of it self, but will readily receive any smell that you would impart to it.
1875. Ure, Dict. Arts, I. 337. Oil of ben … is much used by watchmakers.
