tragacanth

noun trag·a·canth \ 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 eastern 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 and Etymology of tragacanth

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

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First Known Use: 1558

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

Medical Dictionary

tragacanth

noun trag·a·canth \ ˈtraj-ə-ˌkan(t)th, ˈtrag-, -kən(t)th; also ˈtrag-ə-ˌsan(t)th \

medical Definition of tragacanth

: a gum obtained from various Asian or East European leguminous plants (genus Astragalus and especially A. gummifer) that swells in water and is used as an emulsifying, suspending, and thickening agent and as a demulcent — called also gum tragacanth, hog gum