tragacanth

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tragacanth

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From Latin tragacantha, from Koine Greek τραγάκανθα (tragákantha, “tragacanth”), from Ancient Greek τράγος (trágos, “he-goat”) + ἄκανθα (ákantha, “thorn”). Doublet of adragant.

tragacanth (countable and uncountable, plural tragacanths)

1. 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, published 2003, page 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.

• E413 when used as a thickener, stabiliser and emulsifier