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