/trag"euh kanth', traj"-/ , n.
a gummy substance derived from various low, spiny, Asian shrubs belonging to the genus Astragalus, of the legume family, esp. A. gummifer: used to impart firmness to pills and lozenges, stiffen calicoes, etc. Also called gum tragacanth .
[ 1565-75; tragacantha goat's thorn tragákantha, equiv. to trág ( os ) goat + ákantha thorn. Cf. TRAGEDY, ACANTHO- ]