ˈmyüs(ə)lij, -lēj noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English muscilage, from Late Latin mucilago musty juice, from Latin mucus nasal mucus — more at mucus
1. : a gelatinous substance that contains protein and polysaccharides and usually uronides and that is obtained especially from the seed coats of various plants (as fucoid seaweeds, marshmallows, flaxes, quinces) and that is similar to plant gums (as gum arabic) but that swells in water without dissolving and forms a slimy mass
2.
a. : an aqueous usually viscid solution of a gum or of some other substance resembling a gum that is used as an adhesive and that is used specifically in pharmacy as an excipient and in medicine as a demulcent — compare paste 2
b. : a similar liquid adhesive of low bonding strength