coccinic acid

noun

coc·​cin·​ic acid

(ˈ)käk¦sinik-

: any of three isomeric crystalline diacids C₆H₂(OH)(CH₃)(COOH)₂ distinguished as alpha, beta, and gamma with the alpha acid being obtained by oxidizing cochineal

Word History

Etymology

French coccinique, from coccine carmine (from Latin coccinus scarlet, from Greek kokkinos, from kokkos grain, seed) + -ique -ic

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