ALOES
s. The name of aloes is applied to two entirely different substances: a. the drug prepared from the inspissated bitter juice of the Aloë Socotrina , Lam. In this meaning ( a ) the name is considered ( Hanbury and Flückiger, Pharmacographia , 616) to be derived from the Syriac 'elwai (in P. alwā ). b. Aloes -wood, the same as Eagle-wood. This is perhaps from one of the Indian forms, through the Hebrew (pl. forms) ahālim , akhālim and ahālōth , akhālōth . Neither Hippocrates nor Theophrastus mentions aloes, but Dioscorides describes two kinds of it ( Mat. Med. iii. 3). "It was probably the Socotrine aloes with which the ancients were most familiar. Eustathius says the aloe was called ἱερὰ , from its excellence in preserving life (ad. Il. 630). This accounts for the powder of aloes being called Hiera picra in the older writers on Pharmacy."—( Francis Adams, Names of all Minerals, Plants, and Animals desc. by the Greek authors , etc.)
Historical Citations (3)
(a) c. A.D. 70.—"The best Aloe (Latin the same) is brought out of India.... Much use there is of it in many cases, but principally to loosen the bellie; being the only purgative medicine that is comfortable to the stomach...."—Pliny, Bk. xxvii (Ph. Holland, ii. 212). (b) "Ἤλθε δὲ καὶ Νικόδημος ... φέρων μίγμα σμύρνης και ἀλόης ὠσεὶ λίτρας ἑκατόν."—John xix. 39. c. A.D. 545.—"From the remoter regions, I speak of Tzinista and other places, the imports to Taprobane are silk Aloes-wood (ἀλόη), cloves, sandal-wood, and so forth."—Cosmas, in Cathay, p. clxxvii.
"In wch Iland of Allasakatrina are good harbors faire depth and good Anchor ground."—Discription in Birdwood, First Letter Book, 82. (Here there is a confusion of the name of the island Socotra with that of its best-known product—Aloes Socotrina).]
"... a kind of lignum Allowaies."—Cocks's Diary, i. 309 [and see i. 3].
From Hobson-Jobson by Yule & Burnell, 1886.