Bdellium

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  bdellium \bdel"lium\, n. [L., fr. Gr. bde`llion; cf. Heb.
     b'dolakh bdellium (in sense 1).]
     1. An unidentified substance mentioned in the Bible (--Gen.
        ii. 12, and --Num. xi. 7), variously taken to be a gum, a
        precious stone, or pearls, or perhaps a kind of amber
        found in Arabia.


        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. A gum resin of reddish brown color, brought from India,
        Persia, and Africa.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: {Indian bdellium} or {false myrrh} is an exudation from
           {Balsamodendron Roxburghii}. Other kinds are known as
           {African bdellium}, {Sicilian bdellium}, etc.
           [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  bdellium
       n : aromatic gum resin; similar to myrrh

From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary [easton]:

  Bdellium
     occurs only in Gen. 2:12, where it designates a product of the
     land of Havilah; and in Num. 11:7, where the manna is likened to
     it in colour. It was probably an aromatic gum like balsam which
     exuded from a particular tree (Borassus flabelliformis) still
     found in Arabia, Media, and India. It bears a resemblance in
     colour to myrrh. Others think the word denotes "pearls," or some
     precious stone.