TRAGACANTH Definition & Meaning

tragacanth

[ trag-uh-kanth, traj- ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

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.

tragacanth

/ ˈ�ٰ�æɡəˌ��æ��θ /

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

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of tragacanth¹

1565–75; < Latin tragacantha goat's thorn < Greek �ٰ��á�첹�Գٳ�, equivalent to �ٰ�á�� ( os ) goat + á�첹�Գٳ� thorn. tragedy, acantho-

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of tragacanth¹

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

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

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.

From

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

From

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

From

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