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Balm vs Bale - What's the difference?

balm | bale |

As nouns the difference between balm and bale

is that balm is any of various aromatic resins exuded from certain plants, especially trees of the genus commiphora'' of africa, arabia and india and ''myroxylon of south america while bale is white spot (on forehead).

As a verb balm

is (archaic) to anoint with balm, or with anything medicinal.

balm

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • Any of various aromatic resins exuded from certain plants, especially trees of the genus Commiphora'' of Africa, Arabia and India and ''Myroxylon of South America.
  • A plant or tree yielding such substance.
  • Any soothing oil or lotion, especially an aromatic one.
    • There is a balm in Gilead.... (Spiritual)
  • (figuratively) Something soothing.
    • Classical music is a sweet balm for our sorrows.
  • Any of various aromatic plants of the genus Melissa , such as lemon balm () or bee balm.

    • Synonyms

    * (aromatic resin) balsam * (plant or tree) balsam * (soothing oil or lotion) balsam * (something soothing) balsam

    Related terms

    * balmy * balsam * embalming

    See also

    * lotion * ointment * unguent

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (archaic) To anoint with balm, or with anything medicinal.
  • (figurative) To soothe; to mitigate.
    • (Shakespeare)

    Anagrams

    * *

    bale

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) (m), from (etyl) .

    Noun

    (-)
  • Evil, especially considered as an active force for destruction or death.
  • Suffering, woe, torment.
  • * 1596 , (Edmund Spenser), The Faerie Queene , VI.7:
    • That other swayne, like ashes deadly pale, / Lay in the lap of death, rewing his wretched bale .
    Derived terms
    * baleful

    Etymology 2

    Form (etyl) (which may have been the direct source for the English word).

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (obsolete) A large fire, a conflagration or bonfire.
  • (archaic) A funeral pyre.
  • (archaic) A beacon-fire.
    • Derived terms
    * balefire * baleful

    Etymology 3

    Precise derivation uncertain: perhaps from (etyl) (m), (m), from , from (etyl); or perhaps from (etyl) (m), itself borrowed from (etyl).

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A rounded bundle or package of goods in a cloth cover, and corded for storage or transportation.
  • A bundle of compressed wool or hay, compacted for shipping and handling.
  • A measurement of hay equal to 10 flakes. Approximately 70-90 lbs (32-41 kg).
  • A measurement of paper equal to 10 reams.
    • Derived terms
    * bale of dice
    Coordinate terms
    * (measurement of paper) bundle, quire, ream
    See also
    *

    Verb

    (bal)
  • To wrap into a bale.

    • Etymology 4

    Alternative spelling of (bail)

    Verb

    (bal)
  • (British, nautical) To remove water from a boat with buckets etc.

    • See also

    *

    Anagrams

    * English terms with multiple etymologies ----