"gummy, resinous exudation of certain plants of Arabia and Ethiopia," used for incense, perfumery, etc., Middle English mirre, from Old French mirre (11c.) and also from Old English myrre, both the Old English and Old French words from Latin myrrha (source also of Dutch mirre, German Myrrhe, French myrrhe, Italian, Spanish mirra), from Greek myrrha, from a Semitic source (compare Akkadian murru, Hebrew mor, Arabic murr "myrrh"), from a root meaning "was bitter." The classical spelling restoration is from 16c.
