frankincense

frankincense
    n 1: an aromatic gum resin obtained from various Arabian or East
         African trees; formerly valued for worship and for
         embalming and fumigation [syn: {frankincense}, {olibanum},
         {gum olibanum}, {thus}]
    

Frankincense \Frank"in*cense\, n. [OF. franc free, pure + encens
   incense.]
   A fragrant, aromatic resin, or gum resin, burned as an
   incense in religious rites or for medicinal fumigation. The
   best kinds now come from East Indian trees, of the genus
   {Boswellia}; a commoner sort, from the Norway spruce ({Abies
   excelsa}) and other coniferous trees. The frankincense of the
   ancient Jews is still unidentified.
   [1913 Webster]
    

Frankincense
(Heb. lebonah; Gr. libanos, i.e., "white"), an odorous resin
imported from Arabia (Isa. 60:6; Jer. 6:20), yet also growing in
Palestine (Cant. 4:14). It was one of the ingredients in the
perfume of the sanctuary (Ex. 30:34), and was used as an
accompaniment of the meat-offering (Lev. 2:1, 16; 6:15; 24:7).
When burnt it emitted a fragrant odour, and hence the incense
became a symbol of the Divine name (Mal. 1:11; Cant. 1:3) and an
emblem of prayer (Ps. 141:2; Luke 1:10; Rev. 5:8; 8:3).

  This frankincense, or olibanum, used by the Jews in the temple
services is not to be confounded with the frankincense of modern
commerce, which is an exudation of the Norway spruce fir, the
Pinus abies. It was probably a resin from the Indian tree known
to botanists by the name of Boswellia serrata or thurifera,
which grows to the height of forty feet.