Benzoins

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A class of organic compounds containing a benzene ring fused to a carbonyl group, often used in perfumes and flavoring agents
2. Chemical substances characterized by a benzene structure that are utilized in various applications such as preservatives and resins
3. Compounds that feature a fused benzene and carbonyl configuration, commonly found in the production of pharmaceuticals and food additives

Etymology: Benzoin is the resin of trees in the genus Styrax, and its name hides a shipping route. In Arabic it was "lubān jāwiyy," meaning "Javanese frankincense," because the resin reached the Middle East from Java, in what is now Indonesia. The first word, "lubān," is related to "laban," meaning "white," a nod to the pale, milky appearance of the gum. The second, "jāwiyy," is a derivative of "Jāwa," the Arabic name for Java, which itself comes from the Javanese word "jawa." The Arabic phrase passed into Catalan as "benjuí," and then into Middle French as "benjoin," before English took it up. The original "lu-" was probably dropped because Romance speakers heard it as the definite article, leaving "benjoin" with the sound we now recognise. The chemists who later used the name for a benzene-based compound were borrowing the old resin's name for a very different substance.

Synonyms: resins, aromatic compounds, balsams, fragrances, oils