asafoetida

 
Pronunciation: /ˌasəˈfiːtɪdə, -ˈfɛt-/
(US asafetida)

noun

  • 1 [mass noun] a fetid resinous gum obtained from the roots of a herbaceous plant, used in herbal medicine and Indian cooking.
  • 2a Eurasian plant of the parsley family, from which asafoetida gum is obtained.
    • Ferula assa-foetida, family Umbelliferae

Origin:

late Middle English: from medieval Latin, from asa (from Persian azā 'mastic') + foetida (see fetid)