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peptide

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Etymology and origin of the French word peptide

Confidence
Disputed
Formation
Borrowing
First attested
1907 Nouveau Larousse illustré, supplement More words from the 20th century
Borrowed from
German Peptid
Ultimate origin
German Peptid

Pronunciation

Forms

peptide m (plural peptides)[1]

Etymology

The TLFi takes it as borrowed from German Peptid, formed from the stem of Pepton (French peptone) and the suffix -id (French -ide), after the chemist E. Fischer's Dipeptid, Tripeptid and Tetrapeptid of 1902.[2] Etymonline likewise derives the English word peptide (1906) from the German word (1902).[3] The Petit Robert and Wiktionary treat the French word as taken from English,[4][1] while the Grand Robert and Rey analyse it as a blend of pepsine and protide.[5][6]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in 1907, in the supplement to the Nouveau Larousse illustré, as a term of chemistry.[2][5]

Semantic evolution

It belongs to a series of biochemical terms coined between 1850 and 1950, with the derivatives peptidique (about 1950), peptidase and peptisant (about 1960);[6] the TLFi dates peptisant to 1935 and peptidase to 1955.[2] Polypeptide was borrowed from Fischer's German term in 1903.[6]

Timeline

  • 1902 – Fischer uses German Dipeptid, Tripeptid and Tetrapeptid.[2]
  • 1903 – French borrows polypeptide.[6]
  • 1906 – English peptide is recorded.[4][3]
  • 1907 – First French record of peptide.[2][5]
  • 1955 – Peptidase is first recorded.[2]

Meanings

Noun

  1. (biochemistry) A peptide, a compound formed by a small number of linked amino acids.[4][2][7]

Word family

  • peptidique
  • peptidase
  • peptisant
  • polypeptide
  • peptone
  • pepsine
  • protide
  • German Peptid
  • English peptide

References

  1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g 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 Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  5. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  6. ^ a b c d Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  7. ^ Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Peptide.” Etymologically, 15 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/peptide. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

Last edited on . ·