Part 510

Syn. -- Fragrant; sweet-scented; odorous; spicy.

Bal"ne*al (&?;), a. [L. balneum bath.] Of or pertaining to a bath. Howell.

Bal"ne*a*ry (&?;), n. [L. balnearium, fr. balneum bath.] A bathing room. Sir T. Browne.

Bal`ne*a"tion (&?;), n. [LL. balneare to bathe, fr. L. balneum bath.] The act of bathing. [R.]

Bal"ne*a*to*ry (&?;), a. [L. balneatorius.] Belonging to a bath. [Obs.]

Bal`ne*og"ra*phy (&?;), n. [L. balneum bath + -graphy.] A description of baths.

Bal`ne*ol"o*gy (&?;), n. [L. balneum bath + -logy.] A treatise on baths; the science of bathing.

Bal`ne*o*ther"a*py (&?;), n. [L. balneum bath + Gr. qerapey`ein to heal.] The treatment of disease by baths.

Bal"o*tade` (bl"l*täd` or - td`), n. See Ballotade.

||Bal"sa (&?;), n. [Sp. or Pg. balsa.] (Naut.) A raft or float, used principally on the Pacific coast of South America.

Bal"sam (bl"sam), n. [L. balsamum the balsam tree or its resin, Gr. ba`lsamon. See Balm, n.] 1. A resin containing more or less of an essential or volatile oil.

The balsams are aromatic resinous substances, flowing spontaneously or by incision from certain plants. A great variety of substances pass under this name, but the term is now usually restricted to resins which, in addition to a volatile oil, contain benzoic and cinnamic acid. Among the true balsams are the balm of Gilead, and the balsams of copaiba, Peru, and Tolu. There are also many pharmaceutical preparations and resinous substances, possessed of a balsamic smell, to which the name balsam has been given.

2. (Bot.) (a) A species of tree (Abies balsamea). (b) An annual garden plant (Impatiens balsamina) with beautiful flowers; balsamine.

3. Anything that heals, soothes, or restores.

Was not the people's blessing a balsam to thy blood? Tennyson.

Balsam apple (Bot.), an East Indian plant (Momordica balsamina), of the gourd family, with red or orange- yellow cucumber-shaped fruit of the size of a walnut, used as a vulnerary, and in liniments and poultices. -- Balsam fir (Bot.), the American coniferous tree, Abies balsamea, from which the useful Canada balsam is derived. -- Balsam of copaiba. See Copaiba. -- Balsam of Mecca, balm of Gilead. -- Balsam of Peru, a reddish brown, syrupy balsam, obtained from a Central American tree (Myroxylon Pereiræ and used as a stomachic and expectorant, and in the treatment of ulcers, etc. It was long supposed to be a product of Peru. -- Balsam of Tolu, a reddish or yellowish brown semisolid or solid balsam, obtained from a South American tree (Myroxylon toluiferum). It is highly fragrant, and is used as a stomachic and expectorant. -- Balsam tree, any tree from which balsam is obtained, esp. the Abies balsamea. -- Canada balsam, Balsam of fir, Canada turpentine, a yellowish, viscid liquid, which, by time and exposure, becomes a transparent solid mass. It is obtained from the balm of Gilead (or balsam) fir (Abies balsamea) by breaking the vesicles upon the trunk and branches. See Balm.

Bal"sam (&?;), v. t. To treat or anoint with balsam; to relieve, as with balsam; to render balsamic.

Bal`sam*a"tion (bl`sam*"shn or bl`-), n. 1. The act of imparting balsamic properties.

2. The art or process of embalming.

{ Bal*sam"ic (bl*sm"k or bl-; 277), Bal*sam"ic*al (&?;), } a. [Cf. F. balsamique.] Having the qualities of balsam; containing, or resembling, balsam; soft; mitigative; soothing; restorative.

Bal`sam*if"er*ous (bl`sam*f"r*s or bl`-), a. [Balsam + -ferous.] Producing balsam.

Bal"sam*ine (&?;), n. [Cf. F. balsamine, fr. Gr. balsami`nh balsam plant.] (Bot.) The Impatiens balsamina, or garden balsam.

Bal"sam*ous (&?;), a. Having the quality of balsam; containing balsam. "A balsamous substance." Sterne.

Bal"ter (&?;), v. t. [Etymol. uncertain. Cf. Bloodboltered.] To stick together. [Obs.] Holland.

Bal"tic (&?;), a. [NL. mare Balticum, fr. L. balteus belt, from certain straits or channels surrounding its isles, called belts. See Belt.] Of or pertaining to the sea which separates Norway and Sweden from Jutland, Denmark, and Germany; situated on the Baltic Sea.

{ Bal"ti*more bird` (&?;). Bal"ti*more o"ri*ole (&?;). } (Zoöl.) A common American bird (Icterus galbula), named after Lord Baltimore, because its colors (black and orange red) are like those of his coat of arms; -- called also golden robin.

Bal"us*ter (&?;), n. [F. balustre, It. balaustro, fr. L. balaustium the flower of the wild pomegranate, fr. Gr. balay`stion; -- so named from the similarity of form.] (Arch.) A small column or pilaster, used as a support to the rail of an open parapet, to guard the side of a staircase, or the front of a gallery. See Balustrade. [Corrupted into banister.]

Bal"us*tered (-trd), a. Having balusters. Dryden.