A pungent gum resin obtained from the roots of certain plants native to Central Asia, used as a spice and in traditional medicine.
From Persian 'aza' (mastic/resin) + Latin 'foetida' (fetid, foul-smelling), literally meaning 'foul resin.' The compound name reflects both Persian/Middle Eastern origins and Latin scientific naming, coined when the substance became known to European naturalists through trade routes.
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