Where does “balsamic” come from?
Balsamic comes from French -ique, from Latin -icus, from Proto-Indo-European -kos, ultimately derived from Hebrew שׂ.
balsamic (English): Producing balsam; Having the health-giving...
Definitions
- Producing balsam; Having the health-giving...
Ancestry of “balsamic”, step by step
balsamic traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via French balsamique
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | French | balsamique | balsamic |
| 2 | Italian | balsamico | balmy; balsamic |
| 3 | Italian | balsamo | balsam, salve; balm |
| 4 | Latin | balsamum | balsam (substance or tree); balm |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | βάλσαμον | Arabian balsam tree; balsam, the fragrant oil... |
| 6 | Hebrew | בושם | perfume |
| 7 | Proto-Semitic | *buśm- | — |
via English balsam
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | balsam | A sweet-smelling oil or resin derived from... |
| 2 | German | Balsam | balsam, balm; ointment |
| 3 | Middle High German | balsam | — |
Words derived from “balsamic”