Etymologically
Log in

mélanine

History Permalink

Etymology and origin of the French word mélanine

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1855 Littré–Robin More words from the 19th century
Ultimate origin
Ancient Greek μέλας

Forms

mélanine f (plural mélanines)[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French mélano- + -ine.[2][3][4] The first element comes from Ancient Greek μέλας (mélas, “black”), and -ine is the chemical ending.[5][6] The TLFi compares English melanin, recorded in 1843;[2] Etymonline dates the English word to 1832, as a Modern Latin coinage.[7] The Grand Robert and the Petit Robert record an earlier French form mélaïne in 1846.[3][8]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in 1855 in the Littré–Robin medical dictionary.[2] Littré defined it as an organic substance whose colour ranges from black to reddish brown.[5]

Semantic evolution

It has kept its biochemical sense, the dark pigment of the skin, hair and iris, which also appears in some tumours.[2][8] The same element gives mélanome and the adjective mélanique, and the congenital lack of the pigment is albinisme.[8][2]

Timeline

  • 1843 – English melanin is recorded, according to the TLFi.[2]
  • 1846 – The French form mélaïne appears.[3][8]
  • 1855 – Mélanine is first recorded, in Littré–Robin.[2][4]

Meanings

Noun

  1. (biochemistry) melanin, the dark brown or black pigment that colours the skin, hair and iris, also found in some tumours.[2][8][9][10]

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
  3. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ a b Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  5. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
  6. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 6/1, 658a
  7. ^ Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  8. ^ a b c d e Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  9. ^ Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)
  10. ^ Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)
Cite this entry

“Mélanine.” Etymologically, 15 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/m%C3%A9lanine. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

Last edited on . ·