Main Entry: frank·in·cense

Pronunciation: \ˈfraŋ-kən-ˌsen(t)s\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English fraunk encense, from Anglo-French franc encens, from franc (perhaps in sense “of high quality”) + encens incense

Date: 14th century

: a fragrant gum resin from trees of a genus (Boswellia of the family Burseraceae) of Somalia and southern coastal Arabia that is an important incense resin and has been used in religious rites, perfumery, and embalming