karaya
(kəˈraɪə)
[ad. Hind. karāl, karāyal resin.]
In full, karaya gum, gum karaya. A gum exuded by the Indian tree Sterculia urens when the bark is pierced: used industrially, esp. as a substitute for gum tragacanth.
| 1893 G. Watt Dict. Econ. Products of India VI. iii. 365 The gum [of Sterculia urens], under the name of karai-gond, is largely used in Bombay in the manufacture of native sweetmeats (Dymock). 1916 Sci. Amer. Suppl. 16 Dec. 393/2 (heading) What is karaya gum? 1918 Jrnl. Amer. Pharmaceutical Assoc. VII. 789 Karaya gum is used extensively in India as a substitute for tragacanth in the preparation of sweetmeats, and also locally as a demulcent in the treatment of throat affections. 1947 C. L. Mantell Water-Soluble Gums iii. 50 Karaya gum has been used in the United States since the latter part of the 19th century, but the large scale use in the United States dates from World War I, when the price of tragacanth was high. Karaya is frequently sold as tragacanth. 1954 Kirk & Othmer Encycl. Chem. Technol. XIII. 883 Gums derived from Irish and Iceland moss, karaya, algin, and quince seeds have received limited applications in textile finishes. 1962 M. G. DeNavarre Chem. & Manuf. Cosmetics (ed. 2) II. 119 Although karaya has sometimes been used as a tragacanth adulterant, its acidity, odor, color, negative starch reaction, and ability to swell in 60% alcohol will quickly differentiate it from tragacanth. Gum karaya has found its widest cosmetic use in making finger-waving concentrates for subsequent dilution to proper consistency with water. 1974 Daily Colonist (Victoria, B.C.) 20 Oct. 2/3 Mrs. Wallace decided to experiment with Karaya vegetable gum powder made from the extract from a tree grown in India, in an effort to promote healing of Nunn's wound. |