tragacanth

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

noun

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.
Also called gum tragacanth.

Origin of tragacanth

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

Words nearby tragacanth

trafficability, trafficable, trafficator, trafficky, trafford, tragacanth, tragedian, tragedienne, tragedize, tragedy, tragic

Example sentences from the Web for tragacanth

British Dictionary definitions for tragacanth

tragacanth
/ (ˈtræɡəˌkænθ) /

noun

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

Word Origin for tragacanth

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