Forms: 4–9 asa-, 6–9 assafetida, assafœtida, 7– asafœtida; also 5 asafetyday, 6 azafedida, assi-, 7 assefœtida, assaffetteda. [med.L.: asa, latinized form of Pers. azā mastic + fœtida, fem. of fœtidus ill-smelling, stinking.] A concreted resinous gum, with a strong alliaceous odor, procured in Central Asia from the Narthex asafœtida and allied umbelliferous plants; used in medicine as an antispasmodic, and as a flavoring in made dishes.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XIX. xl. (1495), 884. Some stynkynge thynges ben put in medycynes, as … Brymstoon and Asafetida.
a. 1500. MS. Sloan, No. 4. 83, in N. & Q., III. VI. 4/2. Take ij penyworth of Asafetyday.
1502. Arnold, Chron. (1811), 234. Azafedida at xvid.
1598. E. Gilpin, Skial. (1878), 27. Thow’lt doome them to th’ Apotheta, To wrap Sope in, and Assifœtida.
1692. Ray, Disc., iv. (1721), 52. A Lump of Asafœtida.
1762. Goldsm., Cit. World, xcvii. I am for sauce strong with assafœtida, or fuming with garlic.
1849. Macready, Remin., II. 321. A bottle of asafœtida … splashed my own dress, smelling of course most horribly.
b. The plant that produces this gum.
1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts, 419. The herb called Assafœtida.
1862. Bellew, Afghan., 270. The assafœtida … grows wild on the sandy and gravelly plains that form the western portion of Afghanistan.
