an astringent resinous substance obtained from a rubiaceous tropical Asian woody climbing plant, Uncaria gambir (or U. gambier): used as an astringent and tonic and in tanning
Word origin
C19: from Malay
gambier in American English
(ˈgæmbɪr) or ˈgamˌbir (ˈgæmbɪr)
noun
an astringent substance extracted from various S Asian plants (genus Uncaria) of the madder family, chewed with the betel nut: used in tanning and dyeing and, formerly, in medicine