English Language & Usage Asked on May 11, 2021
Not in use so much these days, “gum arabic” can still be found for sale in small bottles. Is there a reason why it is called “gum arabic” and not “arabic gum”?
Gum Arabic – Gum arabic, also known as acacia gum, chaar gund, char goond, or meska, a natural gum made of hardened sap taken from two species of the acacia tree, is used primarily in the food industry as a stabilizer. It is edible and has E number E414. Gum arabic is a key ingredient in traditional lithography and is used in printing, paint production, glue, cosmetics and various industrial applications, including viscosity control in inks and in textile industries, although less expensive materials compete with it for many of these roles.
As with many postfix adjectives in English--e.g. attorney general--we can blame French (or, at least, the Normans) for this one. The OED points to both Anglo-Norman (compare Middle French gomme arabique) and post-classical Latin (gummi Arabicum) roots. So, Dan is more or less correct that Latin is the ultimate source, but we imported the construction as early as the 13th century.
Correct answer by szarka on May 11, 2021
I think this name is due to that of Gum Arabia is the first historical sourse of "arabinose" sugar derived from African Acacia trees. A similarity between spelling of "arabinose" and "arabia", its furthur finding in some arabian trees, and arabic language of African countries having Gum Arabia led to the developement of the mistake prononciation of this Arabinosic Gum.
Answered by Fatemeh Tamaddon on May 11, 2021
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