tragacanth
English
Etymology
From Latin tragacantha, from Koine Greek τραγάκανθα (tragákantha, “tragacanth”), from Ancient Greek τράγος (trágos, “he-goat”) + ἄκανθα (ákantha, “thorn”). Doublet of adragant.
Noun
tragacanth (countable and uncountable, plural tragacanths)
- A polysaccharide gum, extracted from several species of leguminous plants of the genus Astragalus, formerly used medicinally and now as a food additive. Also more fully gum tragacanth. [from 16th c.]
- 1844, E.A.Poe, Marginalia
- Where what I have to note is too much to be included within the narrow limits of a margin, I commit it to a slip of paper, and deposit it between the leaves; taking care to secure it by an imperceptible portion of gum tragacanth paste.
- 2002, Victoria Finlay, Colour, Sceptre 2003, p. 198:
- There would have been many gums and resins in these markets for our lute-maker to bind his wood with: […] gum tragacanth from Aleppo, which would be sold as thin and wrinkled worm-like pieces of shrub.
- 1844, E.A.Poe, Marginalia
Synonyms
- E413 when used as a thickener, stabiliser and emulsifier
Translations
milk-vetch gum
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