balm Look up balm at Dictionary.com
early 13c., basme, from O.Fr. basme (Mod.Fr. baume), from L. balsamum, from Gk. balsamon "balsam," from Heb. basam "spice," related to Aram. busma, Arabic basham "balsam, spice, perfume." Spelling refashioned 15c.-16c. on L. model. Sense of "healing or soothing influence" (1540s) is from aromatic preparations from balsam (see balsam). Biblical Balm of Gilead, however, began with Coverdale; the Heb. word there is tsori, which was rendered in Septuagint and Vulgate as "resin" (Gk. rhetine, L. resina).