chitin Zool. and Chem.
(ˈkaɪtɪn)
Also -ine.
[a. F. chitine, f. Gr. χιτών frock, tunic: see -in. (The etymological formation would be chitonin.)]
The organic substance which forms the elytra and integuments of insects and the carapaces of crustacea.
| 1836–39 Todd Cycl. Anat. II. 881/2 The..substance that constitutes the hard portion of the dermo-skeleton is called chitine by Odier. 1874 Schorlemmer Carbon Compds. 467 Chitin, C9H15NO6, is the principal constituent of the horny cover of beetles and crustaceans. 1877 Huxley Anat. Inv. An. i. 53 The existence of cellulose as a constituent of chitin. |
| fig. 1883 H. Drummond Nat. Law in Spir. W. 331 Words are mere chitine. |
| attrib. 1876 tr. Wagner's Gen. Pathol. 113 A superficial homogenous chitin layer. 1877 W. Thomson Voy. Challenger II. i. 7 Empty..chitine sacs. |
Hence
ˈchitinize v. trans., to convert into chitin;
ˌchitiniˈzation, conversion into chitin;
ˈchitinocalˈcareous a., containing chitin and lime.
| 1877 Huxley Anat. Inv. An. vi. 254 Chitinised tendons. 1878 Bell Gegenbauer's Comp. Anat. 22 Chitinised cuticles. 1870 Rolleston Anim. Life Introd. 133 [They] obtain considerable rigidity by chitinization. 1880 Huxley Crayfish, Its [the crayfish's] chitino-calcareous body-walls. |