octopine
English
editEtymology 1
editOctopus octopodia (the common octopus) + -ine (chemically basic or alkaloidal substance)
Noun
editoctopine (plural octopines)
- (biochemistry) An analog of lactic acid, derived from the amino acids arginine and alanine, first isolated from the muscle tissue of octopus species.
Synonyms
editDerived terms
editSee also
edit- octopamine (confused with)
Etymology 2
editAdjective
editoctopine (comparative more octopine, superlative most octopine)
- Of, pertaining to, or resembling an octopus or octopuses; octopuslike.
- 1914, Gilbert Keith Chesterton, The Flying Inn, page 266:
- ...but the Captain preferred to swing himself onto one of the octopine branches with a whirl of large wild legs worthy of a chimpanzee.
Synonyms
edit- see list in octopuslike