peruvian balsam

2 definitions found

peruvian balsam - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Peruvian \Pe*ru"vi*an\, a. [Cf. F. p['e]ruvien, Sp. peruviano.]
     Of or pertaining to Peru, in South America. -- n. A native or
     an inhabitant of Peru.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     Peruvian balsam. See Balsam of Peru, under Balsam.
  
     Peruvian bark, the bitter bark of trees of various species
        of Cinchona. It acts as a powerful tonic, and is a remedy
        for malarial diseases. This property is due to several
        alkaloids, as quinine, cinchonine, etc., and their
        compounds; -- called also Jesuit's bark, and cinchona.
        See Cinchona.
        [1913 Webster]

peruvian balsam - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  Peruvian balsam
      n 1: tree of South and Central America yielding an aromatic
           balsam [syn: Peruvian balsam, Myroxylon pereirae,
           Myroxylon balsamum pereirae]