galbanum Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a bitter aromatic gum resin that resembles asafetida
    gum albanum.

WordNet

Gal"ban, Gal"ba*num noun (Also<
  • Galban
  • Galbanum
)
Etymology
L. galbanum, Gr. , prob. from Heb. klekb'nh: cf. F. galbanum.
Definitions
  1. A gum resin exuding from the stems of certain Asiatic umbelliferous plants, mostly species of Ferula. The Bubon Galbanum of South Africa furnishes an inferior kind of galbanum. It has an acrid, bitter taste, a strong, unpleasant smell, and is used for medical purposes, also in the arts, as in the manufacture of varnish.

Webster 1913