tragacanth

trag·a·canth

noun
\ˈtra-jə-ˌkan(t)th, ˈtra-gə-, -kən(t)th; also ˈtra-gə-ˌsan(t)th\

Definition of TRAGACANTH

: a gum obtained from various Asian or East European plants (genus Astragalus and especially A. gummifer) of the legume family that swells in water and is used chiefly as an emulsifying, suspending, or thickening agent

Origin of TRAGACANTH

Middle French tragacanthe, from Latin tragacantha, from Greek tragakantha, from tragos goat + akantha thorn

First Known Use: 1573