1. [n]  semisolid preparation (usually containing a medicine) applied externally as a remedy or for soothing an irritation
2. [n]  any of various aromatic resinous substances used for healing and soothing

1. \Balm\, n. [OE. baume, OF. bausme, basme, F. baume, L.
   balsamum balsam, from Gr. ?; perhaps of Semitic origin; cf.
   Heb. b[=a]s[=a]m. Cf. {Balsam}.]
   1. (Bot.) An aromatic plant of the genus {Melissa}.
   2. The resinous and aromatic exudation of certain trees or
      shrubs. --Dryden.
   3. Any fragrant ointment. --Shak.
   4. Anything that heals or that mitigates pain. ``Balm for
      each ill.'' --Mrs. Hemans.
   {Balm cricket} (Zo["o]l.), the European cicada. --Tennyson.
   {Balm of Gilead} (Bot.), a small evergreen African and
      Asiatic tree of the terebinthine family ({Balsamodendron
      Gileadense}). Its leaves yield, when bruised, a strong
      aromatic scent; and from this tree is obtained the balm of
      Gilead of the shops, or balsam of Mecca. This has a
      yellowish or greenish color, a warm, bitterish, aromatic
      taste, and a fragrant smell. It is valued as an unguent
      and cosmetic by the Turks. The fragrant herb
      {Dracocephalum Canariense} is familiarly called balm of
      Gilead, and so are the American trees, {Populus
      balsamifera}, variety candicans (balsam poplar), and
      {Abies balsamea} (balsam fir).
   

2. \Balm\, v. i.
   To anoint with balm, or with anything medicinal. Hence: To
   soothe; to mitigate. [Archaic] --Shak.
   

Block And List Manipulation. Harrison, 1970. Extensible language with LISP-like features and ALGOL-like syntax, for CDC 6600. "The Balm Programming Language", Malcolm Harrison, Courant Inst (May 1973).

contracted from Bal'sam, a general name for many oily or resinous substances which flow or trickle from certain trees or plants when an incision is made through the bark.

(1.) This word occurs in the Authorized Version (Gen. 37:25; 43:11; Jer. 8:22; 46:11; 51:8; Ezek. 27:17) as the rendering of the Hebrew word _tsori_ or _tseri_, which denotes the gum of a tree growing in Gilead (q.v.), which is very precious. It was celebrated for its medicinal qualities, and was circulated as an article of merchandise by Arab and Phoenician merchants. The shrub so named was highly valued, and was almost peculiar to Palestine. In the time of Josephus it was cultivated in the neighbourhood of Jericho and the Dead Sea. There is an Arab tradition that the tree yielding this balm was brought by the queen of Sheba as a present to Solomon, and that he planted it in his gardens at Jericho.

(2.) There is another Hebrew word, _basam_ or _bosem_, from which our word "balsam," as well as the corresponding Greek balsamon, is derived. It is rendered "spice" (Cant. 5:1, 13; 6:2; margin of Revised Version, "balsam;" Ex. 35:28; 1 Kings 10:10), and denotes fragrance in general. _Basam_ also denotes the true balsam-plant, a native of South Arabia (Cant. l.c.).