abortin

noun

abort·​in

əˈbȯrtᵊn

plural -s

: an extract made from cultures of a bacterium (Brucella abortus) and used in the diagnosis of contagious abortion of cattle

Word History

Etymology

abort(ion) + -in (as in tuberculin)

Note: This word first appears in the Report of the Departmental Committee Appointed by the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries to Inquire into Epizootic Abortion, authored by John McFadyean and Stuart Stockman (London: HSMO, 1909-13); and in an abstract of the report in The Veterinary Journal (vol. 16, September 1909): "Abortin.—A material analogous to tuberculin was prepared from cultures of the bacillus of cattle abortion." (p. 474)

First Known Use

1909, in the meaning defined above

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