bay rum

noun

: a fragrant liquid used for cosmetic and medicinal purposes that was originally prepared by distilling a liquid containing leaves of the bay-rum tree macerated in rum but is now usually prepared from by mixing alcohol and water with the essential oils from the bay-rum tree along with other aromatic oils (such as the oil from allspice or cloves)

Examples of bay rum in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web On the shelf below the mirror are combs soaking in blue disinfectant and old-time tonics and elixirs, including Clubman Aftershave, bay rum and talc. John MacCormack, ExpressNews.com, 16 Mar. 2020 Her kitchen always smelled like fried meat and café, her bedroom a blend of Maja soap, bay rum, and Bal à Versailles perfume. Longreads, 26 June 2018

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bay rum.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1801, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bay rum was in 1801

Dictionary Entries Near bay rum

Cite this Entry

“Bay rum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bay%20rum. Accessed 30 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

bay rum

noun
: a fragrant liquid used as a cologne or aftershave lotion
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