Definition

Noun 1. A reddish or black juice or resin: This refers to a natural exudate obtained from certain trees of the genus Pterocarpus. It is used in traditional medicine and in the process of tanning leather. 2. An astringent gum: This is a specific type of gum extracted from various tropical plants, valued for its astringent properties and its use in tanning.

Usage Examples

• The traditional healer used kino gum to treat the wound.
• Kino gum is an important ingredient in some leather tanning processes due to its tannin content.
• The dark, viscous kino gum was collected from the bark of the tree.

Advanced Usage

• Botanical Source: The term is often specified by the tree species, e.g., "Malabar kino" from or "East Indian kino" from .
• Pharmaceutical Context: Historically, kino gum was listed in pharmacopoeias as a powerful astringent used for conditions like diarrhea and dysentery.

Variants and Related Words

• Kino (noun): Often used as a shortened form for "kino gum."
• Pterocarpus (noun): The genus of trees from which much kino gum is derived.
• Astringent (noun/adjective): A substance that causes contraction of body tissues; a key property of kino gum.

Synonyms

• Resin (a broader category for similar plant exudates)
• Tannin extract (describing one of its primary uses and components)
• Vegetable astringent

Notes on Meaning

The term kino gum is highly specific and technical. Its primary meanings are confined to botany, traditional medicine, and the tanning industry. It is not used in everyday general English.

Noun

1. reddish or black juice or resin from certain trees of the genus Pterocarpus and used in medicine and tanning etc
2. a gum obtained from various tropical plants; used as an astringent and in tanning