Hematoxylin
/ˌhiːmətɒkˈsaɪlɪn/noun
A colorless compound obtained from logwood that is oxidized to hematein and used as a biological stain.
Did you know?Hematoxylin itself is nearly colorless; its staining power appears after oxidation to hematein, which binds tissue components in the presence of metal mordants.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*sai- / *sē(i)-
“A reconstructed root associated with thick, muddy, or blood-like fluid; its descendants contributed to Greek haîma, “blood.””
Ancient Greek
Greek
haîma (αἷμα)
“Blood; the source of the hemat- element.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
xúlon (ξύλον)
“Wood or timber; the source of the xyl- element.”
18th Century
New Latin
Haematoxylum
““Bloodwood,” the botanical genus name for logwood, whose red dye-producing heartwood supplied the compound.”
19th Century
Scientific English
hematoxylin
“A substance derived from Haematoxylum wood, later used as a histological stain.”
Modern English
English
hematoxylin
“A laboratory dye used especially to stain cell nuclei and other tissue structures.”