Also 6 tragachant, 7 tragagant, 8 tragant, -anth; see also ADRAGANT, DRAGANT, DRAGON2. [a. F. tragacante (16th c.) = It., Sp. tragacanta, ad. L. tragacantha (Pliny), a. Gr. τραγάκανθα goat’s-thorn, tragacanth- shrub, f. τράγος he-goat + ἄκανθα thorn.
The gum was called in L. tragacanthum (Celsus), whence Sp., Pg. tragacanto.]
1. A ‘gum’ or mucilaginous substance obtained from several species of Astragalus (see 2), by natural exudation or incision, in the form of whitish strings or flakes, only partially soluble in water: see quot. 1875. Used in medicine (chiefly as a vehicle for drugs) and in the industrial arts. Also a similar substance obtained from Sterculia Tragacantha of W. Africa. a. Commonly called gum tragacanth.
1573. in Feuillerat, Revels Q. Eliz. (1908), 199. Gum tragachant ii ounces.
1634. J. B[ate], Myst. Nat., 33. With gum tragagant dissolued in faire water.
1643. Steer, trans. Exp. Chyrurg., xiv. 57. Mixe it with the whites of Egges and Gum Tragacanth.
1714. Fr. Bk. of Rates, 92. Gum Tragant per 100 Weight 02 10.
1811. A. T. Thomson, Lond. Disp., II. (1818), 65. Gum tragacanth is demulcent.
1830. Lindley, Nat. Syst. Bot., 39. The Gum Tragacanth of Sierra Leone is produced by a species of Sterculia.
1875. Bennett & Dyer, Sachs’ Bot., 36. Gum-tragacanth consists of the cells of the pith and medullary rays of Astragalus creticus, A. Tragacantha, and other species, transformed into mucilage.
b. Called simply tragacanth.
1601. Holland, Pliny, XIII. xxi. I. 398. A pound of Tragacanth is worth thirteen deniers Romane.
1712. trans. Pomet’s Hist. Drugs, I. 181. Traganth or Tragacanth, is a white curl’d Gum made like little Worms.
1875. H. C. Wood, Therap. (1879), 577. Tragacanth is used in medicine only in the manufacture of troches and in suspending heavy powders.
† 2. Any one of several low-growing spiny shrubs of the genus Astragalus (N.O. Leguminosæ), found in Persia and neighboring regions, which yield gum tragacanth (see 1). Obs. rare.
1601. Holland, Pliny, XIII. xxi. I. 398. The same Iland hath the bush Tragacanth growing in it.
1741. Compl. Fam.-Piece, II. iii. 373. Columbines, Spireas,… Spanish Broom, Tragacantha.
3. attrib.
1813. Milburn, Oriental Comm., I. 110. Tragacanth gum, or as it is usually called gum dragon.
1836. J. M. Gully, Magendie’s Formul. (ed. 2), 138. Tragacanth powder.
1876. Harley, Royle’s Mat. Med., 633. Tragacanth Bushes … are small, tangled, spiny bushes, resembling stunted varieties of … furze.
1879. Sat. Rev., 8 Nov., 580/1. The tragacanth draught of the ancient Sophists is tolerated.
Hence Tragacanthin (also contr. traganthin), Chem., the essential constituent of tragacanth and other gums: = BASSORIN. (See also quot. 1843.)
1842. Brande, Dict. Sc., etc., s.v. Tragacanth, An analogous kind of gum is found in other plants, and the generic name of tragacanthin is sometimes applied to it.
1843. Penny Cycl., XXV. 113–4. An artificial substance prepared by boiling starch,… called tragacatin, does not swell in water.
