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Origin and history of tryptophan

tryptophan(n.)

also tryptophane, complex amino acid essential in animal diet, 1890, coined in German (1876) from trypto-, taken as a combining form of tryptic "by trypsin" (see trypsin) + Greek phainein "bring to light, cause to appear, show" (from PIE root *bha- (1) "to shine").

Entries linking to tryptophan

chief digestive enzyme of pancreatic juice, 1876, coined 1874 by German physiologist Wilhelm Friedrich Kühne (1837-1900), apparently from Greek tripsis "rubbing, friction" (from tribein "to rub, rub down, wear away;" from PIE root *tere- (1) "to rub, turn") + chemical suffix -in (2). Said to be so called because it first was obtained (in 1862) by rubbing the pancreas with glycerin.

"pertaining to or of the nature of trypsin," 1877, from trypsin + -ic (compare pepsin/peptic).

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