storax
(ˈstɔəræks)
Also (4 torax), 6 stora(c)ke, 7 storaxe. Cf. styrax.
[a. L. storax, an early adoption of Gr. στύραξ: see styrax. Cf. F. storax, It. storace, Sp., Pg. estoraque.]
1. A fragrant gum-resin described by ancient writers. In early mod. use applied (perh. correctly) to the resin of the tree Styrax officinalis; in later commercial and pharmaceutical use to the balsam of the tree Liquidambar orientale (more explicitly liquid storax).
| 1382 Wyclif Ecclus. xxiv. 21 As torax [c 1388 as storax], and galban,..and as Liban not kut, I smekede my dwelling. 1483 Caxton Golden Leg. 51 b/2 Presente to that man yeftes a lytyl Reysens & hony Storax stacten therebinthe & dates. 1542 Boorde Dyetary xxvii. (1870) 290 Take of storax calamyte half an vnce. 1543 Traheron Vigo's Chirurg. v. 267 b/1 Then put therunto..of liquide storax .ȝ. vi. 1577 Frampton Joyful News i. 7 Mingled with a little Storake, Amber & Muske. 1648 Herrick Hesper., Another on Julia 210 How can I chuse but kisse her, whence do's come The Storax, Spiknard, Myrrhe, and Ladanum. 1694 Pechey Compl. Herbal 333 The resin of Storax, which is sold in the Shops is two-fold, dry and liquid. The dry is called Storax-Calamite..because it is put up in Reeds. 1712 E. Cooke Voy. S. Sea 363, 3 Bales Storax. 1820 T. Green Univ. Herbal II. 637 But the only kinds now to be found in the shops are the Pure and the Common Storax; the former is..of a yellowish or reddish-brown appearance, and interspersed with whitish tears... This has been called Storax-in-the-lump, or Red Storax; and the separate tears, Storax-in-the-tear. The Common Storax is in large masses, [etc.]. 1838 Emerson Addr. Cambridge, Mass. Wks. (Bohn) II. 192 The religious sentiment..is the embalmer of the world. It is myrrh and storax, and chlorine. 1859 Hooker in Man. Sci. Enquiry (ed. 3) 423 None of the storax found in commerce in modern times is derived from Styrax officinale L. |
2. The tree Styrax officinalis.
| 1694 Pechey Compl. Herbal 333 A Storax, with the Leaves of Maple, grows in the Lord Bishop of London's curious Garden. 1842 Penny Cycl. XXIII. 181/1 Styrax officinalis, officinal Storax. |
3. attrib., as storax-ointment, storax-pill, storax-plant, storax-tree; storax-worts pl., Lindley's name for the N.O. Styracaceæ.
| 1753 Chambers' Cycl. Suppl. App., Storax-tree, in botany, the English name of the styrax. 1783 S. Chapman in Med. Commun. I. 267 The storax pill was desired to be repeated. 1846 Lindley Veg. Kingd. 593 Storax worts are sparingly distributed, for the most part through the tropical or sub⁓tropical regions of both hemispheres. 1876 Harley Royle's Mat. Med. 414 The Storax Tree. A tree resembling the plane.., 20 to 60 feet high. 1891 Century Dict. s.v. Ointment, Storax ointment, liquid storax and olive-oil. |