Flavin
/ˈfleɪvɪn/noun
Any of a class of yellow compounds derived from riboflavin, including biologically important coenzymes.
Did you know?Flavins are named from Latin flavus, meaning “yellow,” the same ancient color-word behind a whole family of English terms for gold, blondness, and bright light.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
flavus
“yellow; golden; blond”
Late Latin / Scientific Latin
Latin
flavin-
“yellow pigment or yellow chemical substance”
Early 20th Century
English
flavin
“a yellow pigment or yellow compound, especially one related to riboflavin”
Modern English
English
flavin
“a class of yellow biological compounds, including flavin coenzymes such as FMN and FAD”