Etymology of gum by etymonline (2024)

FAQs

What is the origin of the word gum? ›

From Middle English gomme, gumme, borrowed from Anglo-Norman gome, from Late Latin gumma, from Latin cummi, gummi, from Ancient Greek κόμμι (kómmi), from Egyptian qmy (“anointing oil”), qmyt (“acanthus resin, gum”). Cognate with Spanish goma (“rubber”).

Root: gingiv (gum).

An Ohio dentist used rubber to create a chewing gum product for jaw exercise and chewing gum stimulation. William F. Semple was honored for this work with the first patent to manufacture chewing gum in December 1869.

noun. any of various viscid, amorphous exudations from plants, hardening on exposure to air and soluble in or forming a viscid mass with water. any of various similar exudations, as resin. a preparation of such a substance, as for use in the arts or bookbinding. chewing gum.

More Latin words for gum. cummis noun. gum. gingiva noun. gum, gums.

ούλο {n} gum (also: gingiva) 2. " chewing gum" μαστίχα {f}

In the late 1840s, John Curtis developed the first commercial spruce tree gum by boiling resin, then cutting it into strips that were coated in cornstarch to prevent them from sticking together. By the early 1850s, Curtis had constructed the world's first chewing gum factory, in Portland, Maine.

Gingivitis comes from Latin gingivae, "gums," and -itis, "inflammation."

Chewing sugar-free gum has been shown to increase the flow of saliva, thereby reducing plaque acid, strengthening the teeth and reducing tooth decay. American Dental Association Oral Health Topic: Forensic Dentistry and Anthropology.

The verdict: Is chewing gum good or bad for oral health? If you choose sugar-free chewing gum made with xylitol, this is good for oral health. It increases saliva production to reduce your chance of decay and kill bad breath, as well as other health-related benefits such as a memory boost and reduced stress.

Why was Dentyne gum discontinued? ›

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- Mondelez has decided to get rid of its gum business in North America and parts of Europe, reasoning that the number of gum chewers has gone down during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The chewing gum ban was implemented to eradicate problems created by chewing-gum litter in public places like cinemas, parks and common areas of housing estates such as lifts, staircases and corridors, as well as the high costs involved to clean up the litter.

The Mayans and Aztecs were the first to exploit the positive properties of gum; they used chicle, a natural tree gum, as a base for making a gum-like substance and to stick objects together in everyday use. Forms of chewing gum were also chewed in Ancient Greece.

Egyptian fleets shipped Gum Acacia as an article of commerce. Ancient inscriptions frequently refer to "KAMI", a form of Gum Acacia used as a pigment binder and adhesive in painting. It was eventually introduced to Europe through various Arabian ports acquiring the name "Gum Arabic" after its place of origin.

5 is a brand of sugar-free chewing gum that is manufactured by the Wrigley Company, marketed toward teenagers. The name "5" hints at the five human senses (with the ad slogan "Stimulate Your Senses" and "How It Feels to Chew Five Gum") and that it has 5 calories.

Gum is a type of glue that is used to stick two pieces of paper together. He was holding up a pound note that had been torn in half and stuck together with gum.

The first firearm was the fire lance, which appeared in China between the 10–12th centuries. It was depicted in a silk painting dated to the mid-10th century, but textual evidence of its use does not appear until 1132, describing the siege of De'an.