An acacia tree (Acacia nilotica) native to South Asia and Africa, valued for gum, firewood, and fodder.
From Arabic 'bābūl' or Hindi 'babūl,' names for the specific acacia species; entered English through trade and colonial botanists' records of Indian plants.
Gum arabic from the babool tree was so economically important that it shaped trade routes for centuries—it's still used today in soft drinks, candies, and watercolors, though most is now sourced from Sudan.
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