'Peruvian balsam' definitions:
Definition of 'Peruvian balsam'
(from WordNet)
noun
Tree of South and Central America yielding an aromatic balsam [syn: Peruvian balsam, Myroxylon pereirae, Myroxylon balsamum pereirae]
Definition of 'Peruvian balsam'
From: GCIDE
- 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]