tragacanth

[trag-uh-kanth, traj-]

noun

1. a gummy substance derived from various low, spiny, Asian shrubs belonging to the genus Astragalus, of the legume family, especially A. gummifer: used to impart firmness to pills and lozenges, stiffen calicoes, etc.

tragacanth

/ ˈtræɡəˌkænθ /

noun

1. any of various spiny leguminous plants of the genus Astragalus , esp A. gummifer , of Asia, having clusters of white, yellow, or purple flowers, and yielding a substance that is made into a gum

2. the gum obtained from any of these plants, used in the manufacture of pills and lozenges, etc

Word History and Origins

Origin of tragacanth¹

1565–75; < Latin tragacantha goat's thorn < Greek tragákantha, equivalent to trág ( os ) goat + ákantha thorn. tragedy, acantho-

Word History and Origins

Origin of tragacanth¹

C16: from French tragacante , from Latin tragacantha goat's thorn, from Greek tragakantha , from tragos goat + akantha thorn

Example Sentences

For attaching it to the paper a strong mucilage of gum tragacanth, containing an eighth of its weight of spirit of wine, answers best.

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Large surfaces left plain are also washed with gum tragacanth, because this sizing leaves no lines behind.

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Mounting on Points.—Most insects which are too small to be pinned on a No. 2 pin may be fastened to cardboard by means of gum tragacanth, gum shellac, or any good glue.

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A constituent part of a species of gum from Bassora, as also of gum tragacanth and some gum resins.

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A. gummifer and some other similar species of Western Asia, low, spiny shrubs, yield the gum tragacanth of commerce.

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