Quinic
/ˈkwaɪ.nɪk/noun
Relating to quinic acid, a naturally occurring organic acid found in plants.
Did you know?Quinic is named through modern chemistry from quinine, the famous cinchona-bark alkaloid once prized for treating malaria, and the whole word-family ultimately traces back to a South American tree name filtered through Spanish and French.
Etymological Timeline
17th Century
Spanish
quina
“A South American tree whose bark was used medicinally, especially against fevers.”
17th Century
French
quinquina
“Cinchona bark or the cinchona tree, imported as a fever remedy.”
1820
French
quinine
“The antimalarial alkaloid isolated from cinchona bark.”
1830s
French
quinique
“Relating to quinic acid, a chemical derivative associated with quinine and cinchona bark.”
Modern English
English
quinic
“Relating to quinic acid.”
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