capsaicin
noun/kæpˈseɪəsən/ · /kæpˈseɪsən/
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”.
1
Chemistry, Natural sciences, Organic chemistry, Physical sciences Usually A chemical compound found in chilli peppers, which is responsible for their piquancy.
- Derived terms
- capsaicinoid, dihydrocapsaicin, homocapsaicin, homodihydrocapsaicin
- Related terms
- capsicum