Benzoin

also called gum benjamin, gum benzoin. a reddish-brown, aromatic balsamic resin occurring in almondlike fragments and having a vanillalike odor, obtained from trees of the genus styrax, especially s. benzoin, of java, sumatra, etc.: used in the manufacture of perfume and cosmetics and in medicine internally as an expectorant and externally as an antiseptic.
also called benjamin, benjamin-bush. any plant belonging to the genus lindera (benzoin), of the laurel family, including the spicebush and similar aromatic plants.
a white, slightly water-soluble powder, c 14 h 12 o 2 , derived by the condensation of benzaldehyde in the presence of pot-ssium cyanide, and used in organic synthesis.
historical examples

endless amus-m-nt unknown
encyclopaedia britannica, 11th edition, volume 14, slice 3 various
the art of perfumery g. w. septimus piesse
birds and nature vol. 9 no. 1 [january 1901] various
cooley’s cyclopdia of practical receipts and collateral information in the arts, manufactures, professions, and trades…, sixth edition, volume i arnold cooley
a journal of the first voyage of vasco da gama 1497-1499 unknown
the art of perfumery g. w. septimus piesse
forty years in the wilderness of pills and powders william a. alcott
a general history and collection of voyages and travels, volume vii robert kerr
the philippine islands, 1493-1898, volume 29 of 55 various

noun
also called benjamin. a gum resin containing benzoic acid, obtained from various trees of the genus styrax, esp s. benzoin of java and sumatra, and used in ointments, perfume, etc
a white or yellowish crystalline compound with a camphor-like odour used as an antiseptic and flavouring; 2-hydroxy-2-phenylacetophenone. formula: c6h5chohcoc6h5
any lauraceous aromatic shrub or tree of the genus lindera, esp l. benzoin (spicebush)
n.
benzoin
(běn’zō-ĭn, -zoin’)