Xanthophyll
/ˈzænθəˌfɪl/noun
A yellow carotenoid pigment found in plants and some algae.
Did you know?Xanthophyll was named in the 19th century from Greek roots, and its “leaf” half comes from the same ancient root behind “chlorophyll,” linking plant color science to a long classical tradition of naming by visible essence.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
xanthós
“yellow; golden”
Ancient Greek
Greek
phýllon
“leaf”
1830s
English
xanthophyll
“a yellow plant pigment”
Modern English
English
xanthophyll
“a yellow carotenoid pigment found in plants and some algae”