Caproic
/kəˈproʊ.ɪk/noun
Relating to caproic acid, a six-carbon fatty acid found naturally in substances including goat milk.
Did you know?Caproic acid was named from Latin caper, “goat,” because its odor was associated with goats and goat products.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*kapr-
“A word associated with the goat; the exact Proto-Indo-European reconstruction is debated.”
Classical Latin
Latin
caper
“Male goat or he-goat.”
Classical Latin
Latin
capra
“She-goat; the source of later scientific forms built on the goat root.”
19th Century
Scientific Latin
capro-
“A combining form meaning “goat,” used in chemical nomenclature.”
19th Century
English
caproic
“Relating to caproic acid, named for its goat-associated odor and occurrence in goat products.”
Modern English
English
caproic
“Of or relating to caproic acid, also called hexanoic acid.”