ONYCHA

An ingredient of the sacred incense, whose fragrance perfumed the sanctuary alone, Ex 30:34. It is conjectured to mean the Blatta Bryzantina of the shops; an article which consists of the cover or lid of a species of muscle, and when burnt emits a musky odor. The best onycha is found in the Red Sea, and is white and large.

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Onycha. 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.

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ONYCHA. → A component of the sacred ointment, made from the shells of a species of mussel, possessing an odor Ex 30:34

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On″y‐cha (?), n. [[NL., from L. onyx, -ychis, onyx, also, a kind of mussel, Gr. �, �. See Onyx.]] 1. 1. An ingredient of the Mosaic incense, probably the operculum of some kind of strombus. Ex. xxx. 34.
2. 2. The precious stone called onyx.