ETYM Old Fren. franc free, pure + encens incense.
An aromatic gum resin obtained from various Arabian or eastern African trees; formerly valued for worship and for embalming and fumigation; SYN. olibanum, gum olibanum.
Resin of various African and Asian trees of the genus Boswellia, family Burseraceae, burned as incense. Costly in ancient times, it is traditionally believed to be one of the three gifts brought by the Magi to the infant Jesus.