tolu balsam
- noun
- /ˈtoʊlu ˈbɔːlsəm/
- Specialized
:
bálsamo de tolu
- Traditional cough syrups often contain tolu balsam for its soothing properties.
Examples
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The perfume was scented with tolu balsam and other exotic resins.
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Pharmacists once used tolu balsam as an ingredient in old-fashioned medicinal lozenges.
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The herbalist recommended tolu balsam for its soothing properties.
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Many cough syrups contain tolu balsam to help relieve symptoms.
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Pharmacists once used tolu balsam as an ingredient in old-fashioned medicinal lozenges.
-
Traditional cough syrups often contain tolu balsam for its soothing properties.
-
Many cough syrups contain tolu balsam to help relieve symptoms.
Synonyms
2
7.7
A sticky fragrant gum from some trees used for medicine and perfumes
A sticky yellowish-brown resin from a South American tree used in cough syrups and perfumes
A sticky tree resin that people use in cough medicine and perfume
A dark brown sticky substance from a tree used in perfumes, to add flavour, and to help wounds heal
A fragrant sticky substance from trees that grow in Sumatra used in perfumes and medicine
A thick sticky oil from the Copaifera tree used in ointments and varnishes
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is directly compositional: 'balsam' names the aromatic resin and 'tolu' specifies the particular type/origin of that resin. A B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily infer that 'tolu balsam' is a specific kind of balsam (an aromatic resin) used for coughs/perfumes, so the meaning is predictable from its parts.
Etymology
Tolu balsam may come from the town of Tolu, a Colombian port where people shipped a sticky tree resin. The name joins balsam (a healing resin), so today tolu balsam means that sweet-smelling resin used in 'cough medicines' and 'perfumes'.