Balm and Balsam Are the Same Word
A balm is a soothing ointment. The word is a shortened form of balsam, a fragrant tree resin.
A balm is a fragrant ointment used to soothe or heal, and figuratively anything that comforts. It is a worn-down form of *balsam*, the aromatic resin of certain trees, and the two words are the same thing at different stages of wear. *Balm of Gilead* was a famous healing resin of the ancient Near East, mentioned in the Bible, and the phrase became a byword for consolation. *Embalm* is the same root: to treat a body with balsam.
- A soothing ointment. *Lip balm.*
- Something comforting. *Balm for the soul.*
- Balsam — the fuller form. *Balsam.*
- Embalm — to treat with balsam. *Embalm.*
- Latin — *balsamum*. *The source.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | balm | A balm. |
| Plural | balms | Balms. |
| Adjective | balmy | Balmy. |
| Related | balsam | Balsam. |
| Related | embalm | Embalm. |
- She applied lip balm.Ointment.
- The music was balm after a hard week.Figurative.
- Embalm means to treat with balsam.Related.
Balm and balmy
- Balm — a soothing fragrant ointment
- Balmy — pleasantly mild, of weather
- Balmy (British slang) — mildly mad, often spelled *barmy*
- Balsam — the tree resin itself
- Lemon balm — a herb named for its fragrance
Old French *basme*, from Latin *balsamum*, from Greek *balsamon*, a fragrant gum, probably of Semitic origin.
Are balm and balsam the same word?
Yes. Balm is the worn-down English form of balsam, a fragrant tree resin used for healing.
Is barmy the same as balmy?
Not originally. Barmy comes from barm, the froth on fermenting beer, though the two spellings are often confused.