asafetida Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the brownish gum resin of various plants; has strong taste and odor; formerly used as an antispasmodic
    asafoetida.

WordNet

As`a*fet"i*da, As`a*foet"i*da noun (Also<
  • Asafetida
  • Asafoetida
)
Etymology
Asa + L. foetidus fetid.
Definitions
  1. The fetid gum resin or inspissated juice of a large umbelliferous plant (Ferula asafoetida) of Persia and the East India. It is used in medicine as an antispasmodic. Written also assafoetida.

Webster 1913