gurjun
(ˈgɜːdʒən)
Also gurjan, gurjon.
The native name for a large tree of the East Indies and Philippine Islands, Dipterocarpus alatus, from which and other species of Dipterocarpus a viscid balsamic liquid is obtained, called gurjun balsam or gurjun oil, used as a varnish and medicinally.
| 1858 Simmonds Dict. Trade, Gurjun, an oleo-resin; a thin balsam or wood oil. 1876 Harley Mat. Med. (ed. 6) 702 Gurjun balsam resembles copaiba balsam. 1889 Tablet 16 Feb. 273/1 The gurjun oil which I brought is making a manifest difference in his [Father Damien's] face and hands. 1892 Blackw. Mag. Sept. 384 The gray-stemmed gurjuns gleam like spectres. 1897 Allbutt's Syst. Med. II. 76 Hillis speaks well of the gurjon oil treatment. 1957 J. H. Williams Spotted Deer xi. 143 The two main species of which we were in search were gurjan and padauk... In others [sc. areas] [were] evergreen broad-leaved gurjan forests. |
Hence gurjunic (gɜːˈdʒuːnɪk) a., in gurjunic acid (see quots.).
| 1876 Harley Mat. Med. (ed. 6) 702 The resin contains a little crystallisable gurgunic [sic] acid C44 H68 O8, which appears to be a hydrate of abietinic acid. 1886 Syd. Soc. Lex., Gurjunic acid, C34 H64 O5 + 3 H2 O. A crystalline substance contained in the transparent semi-fluid resin left after the distillation of the volatile oil from gurjun balsam. |