Lactose
/ˈlæk.toʊs/noun
A sugar found in milk and dairy products.
Did you know?The term 'lactose' derives from the Latin 'lac', meaning 'milk', which has been associated with nourishment and life since ancient times.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
lac
“milk, symbolizing nourishment and maternal care.”
Late Latin
Late Latin
lactosa
“the sugar of milk, crucial for infant nutrition.”
19th Century
French
lactose
“the sugar derived from milk, isolating its sweet component.”
Modern English
English
lactose
“a disaccharide sugar present in milk, foundational for dairy products.”
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