tragacanth

American  

[trag-uh-kanth, traj-] / ˈtræg əˌkænθ, ˈtrædʒ- /

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.

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tragacanth British  

/ 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

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Etymology

Origin of tragacanth

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

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

tragacanth

They mixed blood plasma with a little sulfanilamide and some gum tragacanth to make a paste, used it on twelve second-degree burns.

From Time Magazine Archive

Pick the gum tragacanth very clean, freeing it carefully from all dust and impurities.

From The Ladies' Guide to True Politeness and Perfect Manners or, Miss Leslie's Behaviour Book by Leslie, Eliza

It is found in a state of considerable purity in gum tragacanth and some other gums.

From Elements of Agricultural Chemistry by Anderson, Thomas

Gum′-ar′abic, a gum obtained from various species of acacia; Gum′-drag′on, tragacanth; Gum′-elas′tic, india-rubber or caoutchouc; Gum′-ju′niper, sandarac.—adj.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 2 of 4: E-M) by Various

For a still higher finish the biscuit is sized with a solution of gum tragacanth.

From Pottery, for Artists Craftsmen & Teachers by Cox, George J.