a proteolytic enzyme produced in the stomach in the inactive form pepsinogen, which, when activated by acid, splits proteins into peptones
Word origin
C19: via German from Greek pepsis, from peptein to digest
pepsin in American English
(ˈpɛpsɪn)
noun
1.
a digestive enzyme in the gastric juice of stomach secretions that catalyzes the splitting of proteins into smaller, more absorptive peptides
2.
an extract of pepsin from the stomachs of calves, pigs, etc., formerly used as a digestive aid
Word origin
Ger: coined (1836) by T. Schwann (1810-82), Ger physiologist < Gr pepsis, digestion < peptein, earlier pessein, to cook, digest < IE base *pekw- > L coquere, cook