English Explanatory Dictionary

capsaicin

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A chemical compound found in chilli peppers, which is responsible for their piquancy.

Pronunciation

/kæpˈseɪəsən/ /kæpˈseɪsən/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-capsaicin.wav

Word forms

capsaicin capsaicins

Etymology

Arbitrary alteration of earlier capsicine, capsicin (“material extracted from cayenne pepper”), presumably to prevent confusion, from German Capsicin, from New Latin capsicum + German -in. Name introduced by John Clough Thresh (1850–1932) in “Capsaicin, the Active Principle of Capsicum Fruits”.

Related words

capsicum

Derived words

capsaicinoid dihydrocapsaicin homocapsaicin homodihydrocapsaicin
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