capsaicin

/kæpˈseɪəsən/

capsaicin

English Noun

Definition

A chemical compound found in chilli peppers, which is responsible for their piquancy.

Etymology

Arbitrary alteration of earlier capsicine, capsicin (“material extracted from cayenne pepper”), presumably to prevent confusion, from German Capsicin, from New Latin capsicum + German -in. Name introduced by John Clough Thresh (1850–1932) in “Capsaicin, the Active Principle of Capsicum Fruits”.