tragacanth Hear it!

tragacanth definition

traga·canth (trag′ə kant̸h′)

noun

  1. a white or reddish, tasteless and odorless gum, used in pharmacy, calico printing, etc.
  2. any of various, esp. Asiatic, plants (genus Astragalus) of the pea family, yielding this gum

Etymology: Fr tragacanthe < L tragacantha < Gr tragakantha < tragos, goat (see tragedy) + akantha, thorn (see acantho-)

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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