Where does “lip balm” come from?
lip balm (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-.
lip balm (English): A substance topically applied to the lips of the mouth to relieve chapped or dry lips, angular cheilitis or stomatitis, and cold sores
Definitions
- A substance topically applied to the lips of the mouth to relieve chapped or dry lips, angular cheilitis or stomatitis, and cold sores
Ancestry of “lip balm”, step by step
lip balm traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English balm
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | balm | Any of various aromatic resins exuded from... |
| 2 | Middle English | bawme | The aromatic resin of trees of the genus Commiphora; balsam |
| 3 | French | Baumé | a French family name |
| 4 | Old French | basme | — |
| 5 | Latin | balsamum | balsam (substance or tree); balm |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | βάλσαμον | Arabian balsam tree; balsam, the fragrant oil... |
| 7 | Hebrew | בושם | perfume |
| 8 | Proto-Semitic | *buśm- | — |