Mastiha

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A resin obtained from the mastic tree, prized for its flavor and used in food and beverages
2. An aromatic substance derived from the mastic tree, often utilized in cosmetics and traditional medicine
3. A natural gum known for its unique taste, commonly used as a flavoring agent in sweets and various culinary dishes

Etymology: Mastiha is the Greek form of a word that English knows as "mastic," the resin that oozes from the bark of the mastic tree (Pistacia lentiscus). The Ancient Greek original, "mastíkhē," is the name for this gum, and the same root gave later Greek and European languages their words for it. The English word "mastic" came into use through French and Latin routes, so the two forms are doublets: one came into English directly from the same source, while the other kept closer to its Greek shape. The resin has long been prized for chewing and for practical uses. Ancient Greeks chewed it as a breath freshener and for the teeth, and it was used in varnishes and medicines. The island of Chios became especially associated with it, and the resin still gives the island its best-known product today.

Synonyms: mastic