[ ˌasə'fi:tɪdə , -'fɛt- ]
( US asafetida )
■ noun
1》 a fetid resinous gum obtained from the roots of a herbaceous plant, used in herbal medicine and Indian cooking.
2》 a plant of the parsley family, from which ~ is obtained. [ Ferula assa-foetida .]
Origin
ME: from med. L., from asa (from Pers. azā 'mastic') + foetida (see fetid ).