benjamin
benjamin Lexical Profile
benjamin Game Scores & Validity
• noun
American (usually capitalized, slang) A United States one-hundred-dollar bill, bearing the portrait of Benjamin Franklin.
"He pulled out a crisp roll of Benjamins to pay for the vintage guitar in cash."
(often capitalized) The youngest child, especially the youngest son, of a family, or the youngest member of a group (in allusion to the biblical figure Benjamin, the youngest son of Jacob).
"As the Benjamin of a large family of seven children, he was often doted on by his older sisters."
(also gum benjamin) Benzoin, an aromatic balsamic resin obtained from several Southeast Asian trees of the genus Styrax and used in perfumes, incense, and medicine.
"The apothecary ground a small piece of gum benjamin to blend into the traditional incense mixture."
British (historical, slang) A tight-fitting overcoat or upper coat formerly worn by men in the 18th and 19th centuries.
"The coachman wrapped himself tightly in a heavy woollen benjamin before stepping out into the freezing rain."
Word Origin & Etymology
The currency sense alludes to the portrait of American statesman Benjamin Franklin on the United States one-hundred-dollar bill, while the botanical sense is a folk-etymological alteration of 'benjoin' (benzoin), ultimately from Arabic 'luban jawi' ('frankincense of Java').