a protein in the cuticle of insects that becomes hard and dark
sclerotin in American English
(ˈsklɪərətɪn, ˈskler-)
noun
Biochemistry
an insoluble protein that serves to stiffen the chitin of the cuticle of arthropods
Word origin
[1935–40; ‹ Gk sklēro᷇t(ēs) hardness + -in2]This word is first recorded in the period 1935–40. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: aeroembolism, complementation, gangbuster, roadblock, roomette-in is a noun suffix used in a special manner in chemical and mineralogical nomenclature(glycerin; acetin, etc.). In spelling, usage wavers between -in and -ine. In chemistry a certain distinction of use is attempted, basic substances havingthe termination -ine rather than -in (aconitine; aniline, etc.), and -in being restricted to certain neutral compounds, glycerides, glucosides, and proteids(albumin; palmitin, etc.), but this distinction is not always observed