Loban
/ˈloʊ.bən/noun
An aromatic resin, especially frankincense, burned as incense.
Did you know?Loban is closely related to olibanum, a historical name for frankincense—one of the ritual aromatics associated with temple offerings and sacred spaces.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Semitic
Semitic
*lubān
“A fragrant or white resin; the precise prehistoric derivation is uncertain.”
Classical Antiquity
Greek
λίβανος (líbanos)
“Frankincense or the frankincense tree.”
Medieval Arabic
Arabic
لُبَان (lubān)
“Frankincense and other aromatic resin.”
Medieval Latin
Latin
olibanum
“Frankincense; a form influenced by Arabic al-lubān, “the resin.””
Early Modern English
English
loban
“A resin burned as incense, chiefly a variant or shortened form associated with olibanum.”
Modern English
English
loban
“A fragrant incense resin, commonly referring to frankincense or related aromatic resins.”
Explore more surprising origins