frankincense
Syllabification: (frank·in·cense)
Pronunciation: /ˈfraNGkənˌsens/
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Definition of frankincense
noun
- an aromatic gum resin obtained from an African tree and burned as incense. Also called olibanum, gum olibanum.
- This resin is obtained from the tree Boswellia sacra, family Burseraceae, native to Somalia
Origin:
late Middle English: from Old French franc encens, literally 'high-quality incense', from franc (see frank1) in an obsolete sense 'superior, of high quality' (which also existed in English) + encens 'incense'