What does ammoniacum mean?
Ammoniacum is a rare name for gum ammoniac, a fragrant gum resin historically obtained from a desert plant of the carrot family. The substance was once used in medicinal plasters and poultices and also appeared in incense and perfumery. Its name comes through Latin from Greek and ultimately refers to Ammon, the Egyptian deity after whom the plant was named. Although ammoniacum can sometimes be encountered as an alternative name in descriptions of the resin, dictionaries more commonly use gum ammoniac. It should not be confused with ammonia, the gas or aqueous solution of a different chemical compound. Today, ammoniacum has a largely historical presence, but it offers an interesting example of how a religious and geographic association with a plant can become embedded in the name of a traded substance.
nounA gum resin obtained from the gum ammoniac plant, formerly used in medicine, incense, and perfumery.
- A gum resin obtained from the gum ammoniac plant, formerly used medicinally and in incense and perfumery.
"The apothecary ground ammoniacum into powder for use in a medicinal plaster."
"The apothecary ground ammoniacum into powder for use in a medicinal plaster."
"The old shop ledger listed a pound of ammoniacum beside frankincense and myrrh."
The plural is grammatically possible but rarely used because the word itself is uncommon.
"The collection included several ammoniacums and other historical medicinal resins."
A divine name survives in a medicinal resin: ammoniacum traces its origin to Ammon, an Egyptian god.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does ammoniacum come from?
The English word comes through Latin ammoniacum, a Latinized form of Greek ἀμμωνιακόν, denoting the gum or plant associated with Ammon. The name ultimately refers to Ἄμμων (Ammon), the Egyptian deity after whom the plant was named. English relatives including ammonia, ammonium, ammoniac, and ammoniacal preserve the same ancient root.
Related word forms
How ammoniacum is actually used
Rare, learned, and chiefly historical or specialist. In modern writing, it normally appears in discussions of pharmacy, perfumery, incense, or the history of medicine.
Easily confused with ammoniacum
Ammonia is a colorless gas or its aqueous solution, whereas ammoniacum is a solid gum resin formerly used in medicine and perfumery.