An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Balsam

by Friedrich Kluge

Balsam, masculine, ‘balm, balsam,’ from the equivalent Middle High German balsame, balsem, m , Old High German balsamo, masculine; Gothic balsan, with a very remarkable deviation; compare Arabic balasân. The German word is derived from Greek-Latin balsamum (βάλσαμον), whence also French baume (English balm), Italian balsamo.