Salicin
/ˈsælɪsɪn/noun
A bitter chemical compound found in willow bark, used as a precursor in the development of aspirin.
Did you know?Salicin was first isolated from willow bark in the 19th century, and its name comes from the Latin word for willow, linking medicine to a tree long associated with healing in folk tradition.
Etymological Timeline
19th Century
Latin/English
salicin
“Named for the willow tree, from which the compound was first isolated.”
Latin
Latin
salix
“Willow tree.”
Proto-Italic
PII
*salik-
“Willow.”
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*sal-
“Willow or related willow tree.”