gum euphorbium
- noun
- /ɡʌm juˈfɔːrbiəm/
- Specialized
:
goma euphorbium
- The veterinarian explained that gum euphorbium is now rarely used except for certain livestock treatments.
Examples
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In the nineteenth century, gum euphorbium was sometimes prescribed as a purgative despite its harsh effects.
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The veterinarian recommended using gum euphorbium for the horse's condition.
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Because of its acrid nature, gum euphorbium must be handled with care in medical settings.
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Many herbalists still use gum euphorbium in their remedies.
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The veterinarian explained that gum euphorbium is now rarely used except for certain livestock treatments.
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In the nineteenth century, gum euphorbium was sometimes prescribed as a purgative despite its harsh effects.
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Because of its acrid nature, gum euphorbium must be handled with care in medical settings.
Synonyms
A sticky brown gum from plants called spurge that tastes bitter and is now used mainly for animals
Surface Forms
Morphology
The noun phrase is compositionally transparent: 'gum' (a sticky resin) combined with 'euphorbium' (a specific gum resin) directly yields the meaning of a particular gum resin from Euphorbia. Although the term is technical and rare, its referent is predictable from the constituent meanings, so a learner who knows both words would understand it.
Etymology
Gum euphorbium names the sticky, bitter gum that comes from plants called Euphorbia. One popular story says these plants were named after an old doctor called 'Euphorbus' who used the gum as a strong medicine, so gum euphorbium came to mean a harsh brown resin now mostly used in animal treatments.
