MASTIC

MASTIC
MASTIC, the shrub Pistacia lentiscus, known as "medicinal mastic." It exudes a gum which in the Midrash is called mastikhe. It has been identified by some with the lot (AV "myrrh," JPS "laudanum") mentioned among "the choice products of the land" which Jacob sent to Egypt with his sons (Gen. 43:11; Gen. R. ibid.; but see laudanum ). The Tosefta (Shab. 12:8) states that mastikhe may not be chewed on the Sabbath since it is a medicine. Dioscorides states, "Its gum serves for medicine and tooth powder. It is smeared on the skin of the face to make it shine. When chewed it sweetens the breath and contracts the gums. The best mastic comes from the island of Chios" (De materia medica 1:89). To the present day a special variety of the shrub whose gum is sold as medicinal mastic is grown on the island of Chios. It is widely distributed throughout Israel, particularly in the wadis of the Judean hills, but the medicinal properties of its sap have not yet been tested. It would appear that it is to be identified with bakha (pl. bekha'im) of the Bible (II Sam. 5:23; I Chron. 14:14–15; AV "mulberry"; RV "balsam"), the name being connected with the "weeping" (bokhim), i.e., the excretion of the sap. The valley through which the pilgrims walked to the Temple was called emek ha-bakha (Ps. 84:7) because of the shrubs of that name growing there. The phrase was however regarded as meaning "the vale of tears" and it thus became a synonym for the exile. -BIBLIOGRAPHY: H.N. and A.L. Moldenke, Plants of the Bible (1952), 177f., no. 161; J. Feliks, Olam ha-Ẓome'aḥ ha-Mikra'i (19682), 102. (Jehuda Feliks)

Encyclopedia Judaica. 1971.

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  • mastic — [ mastik ] n. m. • XIIIe; bas lat. masticum, gr. mastikhê 1 ♦ Résine jaunâtre qui découle d incisions pratiquées au tronc ou aux branches du lentisque. 2 ♦ Cour. Mélange pâteux et adhésif durcissant à l air. ⇒ futée. Mastic de carrosserie. (1767) …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • mastic — MASTÍC, masticuri, s.n. 1. Material fluid sau vâscos alcătuit dintr un amestec de substanţe minerale sau vegetale, care are proprietatea de a se întări în contact cu aerul şi care serveşte la lipit, chituit, nivelat etc. ♦ Preparat vâscos obţinut …   Dicționar Român

  • Mastic — can refer to: Mastic (plant resin), a resin obtained from Pistacia lentiscus Var. Chia (a shrub native to the Mediterranean region) False Mastic (Sideroxylon foetidissimum), a tree native to Florida, the Caribbean, and Central America A high… …   Wikipedia

  • mastic — MASTIC. s. m. (L S se prononce.) Espece de gomme. Le mastic fortifie le cerveau. mascher du mastic. le mastic vient principalement dans l Isle de Chio. Il signifie aussi, Certaine composition dont on se sert pour joindre, coller & enduire. Il… …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • Mastic — Mas tic, n. [F., fr. L. mastiche, mastichum, Gr. ?, fr. ? to chew, because of its being used in the East for chewing.] [Written also {mastich}.] [1913 Webster] 1. (Bot.) A low shrubby tree of the genus {Pistacia} ({Pistacia Lentiscus}), growing… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Mastic — Mastic, NY U.S. Census Designated Place in New York Population (2000): 15436 Housing Units (2000): 4732 Land area (2000): 4.480560 sq. miles (11.604596 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.339841 sq. miles (0.880183 sq. km) Total area (2000): 4.820401 sq …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Mastic, NY — U.S. Census Designated Place in New York Population (2000): 15436 Housing Units (2000): 4732 Land area (2000): 4.480560 sq. miles (11.604596 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.339841 sq. miles (0.880183 sq. km) Total area (2000): 4.820401 sq. miles (12 …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • mastic — Mastic, Mastiche. L arbre de laquelle degoutte le mastic, qui porte trois fois l an, Lentiscus. Mastic dont les faiseurs d images, de pierres, collent les pierres ensemble, Lithocolla Dioscor. lib. 5 …   Thresor de la langue françoyse

  • mastic — [mas′tik] n. [ME mastik < OFr mastic < LL mastichum < L mastiche < Gr mastichē, akin to mastichan: see MASTICATE] 1. a yellowish resin obtained from a small Mediterranean evergreen tree (Pistacia lentiscus) of the cashew family, used… …   English World dictionary

  • mastic — (n.) resin obtained from certain trees, late 14c., from O.Fr. mastic (13c.) and directly from L.L. mastichum, from L. mastiche, from Gk. mastikhe, of uncertain origin, probably related to masasthai to chew (see MASTICATION (Cf. mastication)). The …   Etymology dictionary

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