Onycha

A nail; claw; hoof, (Heb. sheheleth; Ex. 30:34), a Latin word applied to the operculum, i.e., the claw or nail of the strombus or wing-shell, a univalve common in the Red Sea. The opercula of these shell-fish when burned emit a strong odour “like castoreum.” This was an ingredient in the sacred incense.

spoken of in (Exodus 30:34) was one of the ingredients of the sacred perfume. It consists of the shells of several kinds of mussels, which when burned emit a strong odor.

ON'YCHA, an ingredient of the sacred incense which was prepared under divine direction. Ex 30:34. It was probably the horny lid or door of a univalve shell (Strombus) found in the Red Sea. When burnt this "operculum " emits a strong pungent odor.

ON'YCHA, an ingredient of the sacred incense which was prepared under divine direction. Ex 30:34. It was probably the horny lid or door of a univalve shell (Strombus) found in the Red Sea. When burnt this "operculum " emits a strong pungent odor.

Part of speech: noun (n.)

1. An ingredient of the Mosaic incense, probably the operculum of some kind of strombus. Ex. xxx. 34.

2. The precious stone called onyx. [R.]