Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “horsebalm” come from?

horsebalm (English) comes from English balm, from Middle English bawme, from French Baumé, from Old French basme, from Latin balsamum, from Ancient Greek βάλσαμον, from Hebrew בושם, from Proto-Semitic *buśm-.

horsebalm (English): A strong-scented labiate plant with large leaves...

Definitions

  1. A strong-scented labiate plant with large leaves...

Ancestry of “horsebalm”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishbalmAny of various aromatic resins exuded from...
2Middle Englishbawme—
3FrenchBaumé—
4Old Frenchbasme—
5Latinbalsamumbalsam ; balm
6Ancient GreekβάλσαμονArabian balsam tree; balsam, the fragrant oil...
7Hebrewבושםperfume
8Proto-Semitic*buśm-—
Every word from Proto-Semitic *buśm- →