Also (4 torax), 6 stora(c)ke, 7 storaxe. Cf. STYRAX. [a. L. storax, an early adoption of Gr. στύραξ: see STYRAX. Cf. F. storax, It. storace, Sp., Pg. estoraque.]
1. A fragrant gum-resin described by ancient writers. In early mod. use applied (perh. correctly) to the resin of the tree Styrax officinalis; in later commercial and pharmaceutical use to the balsam of the tree Liquidambar orientale (more explicitly liquid storax).
1382. Wyclif, Ecclus. xxiv. 21. As torax [c. 1388 as storax], and galban,… and as Liban not kut, I smekede my dwelling.
1483. Caxton, Golden Leg., 51 b/2. Presente to that man yeftes a lytyl Reysens & hony Storax stacten therebinthe & dates.
1542. Boorde, Dyetary, xxvii. (1870), 290. Take of storax calamyte half an vnce.
1543. Traheron, Vigo’s Chirurg., V. 267 b/1. Then put therunto … of liquide storax .ȝ. vi.
1577. Frampton, Joyful News, I. 7. Mingled with a little Storake, Amber & Muske.
1648. Herrick, Hesper., Another on Julia, 210. How can I chuse but kisse her, whence do’s come The Storax, Spiknard, Myrrhe, and Ladanum.
1694. Pechey, Compl. Herbal, 333. The resin of Storax, which is sold in the Shops is two-fold, dry and liquid. The dry is called Storax-Calamite … because it is put up in Reeds.
1712. E. Cooke, Voy. S. Sea, 363. 3 Bales Storax.
1820. T. Green, Univ. Herbal, II. 637. But the only kinds now to be found in the shops are the Pure and the Common Storax; the former is … of a yellowish or reddish-brown appearance, and interspersed with whitish tears…. This has been called Storax-in-the-lump, or Red Storax; and the separate tears, Storax-in-the-tear. The Common Storax is in large masses, [etc.].
1838. Emerson, Addr. Cambridge, Mass., Wks. (Bohn), II. 192. The religious sentiment … is the embalmer of the world. It is myrrh and storax, and chlorine.
1859. Hooker, in Man. Sci. Enquiry (ed. 3), 423. None of the storax found in commerce in modern times is derived from Styrax officinale L.
2. The tree Styrax officinalis.
1694. Pechey, Compl. Herbal, 333. A Storax, with the Leaves of Maple, grows in the Lord Bishop of London’s curious Garden.
1842. Penny Cycl., XXIII. 181/1. Styrax officinalis, officinal Storax.
3. attrib., as storax-ointment, -pill, -plant, -tree; storax-worts pl., Lindley’s name for the N. O. Styracaceæ.
1753. Chambers’ Cycl., Suppl. App., Storax-tree, in botany, the English name of the styrax.
1783. S. Chapman, in Med. Commun., I. 267. The storax pill was desired to be repeated.
1846. Lindley, Veg. Kingd., 593. Storax worts are sparingly distributed, for the most part through the tropical or subtropical regions of both hemispheres.
1876. Harley, Royle’s Mat. Med., 414. The Storax Tree. A tree resembling the plane…, 20 to 60 feet high.
1891. Century Dict., s.v. Ointment, Storax ointment, liquid storax and olive oil.
