Forms: 6 belzoin, benjoin, bengwin, bengewyne, 6–7 -wine, 7 bengwine, benzwine, benswine, benioyn, benjoine, benjouin, benzoine, benzion, bezoin, 7–8 benione, 6– benzoin. [In 16th c. benjoin, a. F. benjoin (also benjaoy, quoted by Devic from Déterville, Dict. Hist. Nat., 1816), repr. Sp. benjui, benjuy (Barbosa 1516), Pg. beijoim (Vasco da Gama 1498), It. benzoi (Venetian records, 1461), for *lobenzoi, *lo-benjuy, a. Arab. lubān jāwī ‘frankincense of Jāwā’ (Sumatra), by which name benzoin is called by Ibn Batuta c. 1350 (ed. Paris IV. 228). The lo- appears to have been dropped in Romanic, as if it were the article. The word was naturally much corrupted in European langs.; later It. forms are belgivino, belzuino, mod.L. 1584 belzuinum, whence occas. Eng. belzoin. In Eng., benjoin was soon corrupted to BENJAMIN, which still survives as a synonym. Benzoin, which is farther from the original, and appears to owe its z to the It., began to prevail c. 1650. From benzoin, was formed a. 1800 the chemical term benzoic (acid), whence at a later period benzin(e, benzol, and the numerous names of the Benzene series.]
1. A dry and brittle resinous substance, with a fragrant odor and slightly aromatic taste, obtained from the Styrax benzoin, a tree of Sumatra, Java, etc. It is used in the preparation of benzoic acid, in medicine, and extensively in perfumery. For scientific distinction it is now termed Gum benzoin. Also called by popular corruption BENJAMIN.
1558. Warde, Alexis’ Secr. (1568), 3 a. An unce of Bengewine.
1562. Turner, Herbal, II. 30 b. Belzoin or Benzoin is the rosin of a tree.
1601. Holland, Pliny, I. 480. The herbe … (which beareth the gum Benjoine) grew there first.
1616. Bullokar, Benzwine, a sweet smelling gumme.
1616. Surfl. & Markh., Countr. Farm, 484. Your hard gums, such as is frankincense, benjouin … and waxe.
1653. Walton, Angler (Arb.), 42. There is an herb Benione, which … makes him (the Otter) to avoid that place.
1658. Rowland, trans. Moufet’s Theat. Ins., 1000. Asa dulcis, Wine and Honey, or Benzoin dissolved in warm water.
1671. Grew, Anat. Plants, I. 17. Benzoine, by Distillation [yieldeth] Oyl; by Vstion, white Flowers.
1834. J. Griffin, Chem. Recr., 117. Gum benzoin (or benjamin) is a prime constituent of fumigating pastiles.
1875. Jevons, Money, vii. 28. Cubes of benzoin, gum or beeswax … are other peculiar forms of currency.
2. Bot. Name of a genus of Lauraceae, of which the Benjamin-tree of North America is the chief species. Also called Benzoin Laurel.
1866. Treas. Bot., 135. Benzoin, a genus of Lauraceæ, inhabiting … North America.
1875. Loudon, Abridgm. Arboretum, 685. The Benzoin Laurel, or Benjamin Tree.
3. Chem. Bitter-almond-oil camphor: one of the constituents of gum-benzoin, also frequently contained in crude bitter-almond oil, whence it is obtained as a by-product, when the oil is purified by lime and ferrous chloride; it is a ketone, C14 H12 O2, of the di-phenyl group, and crystallizes in shining prisms.
1863. Watts, Dict. Chem., I. 559.
1880. Syd. Soc. Lex., s.v., Gum Benzoin … contains benzoic acid, benzoin, and resin.
