keratin
/ˈkɛrətɪn
/noun [mass noun]
A fibrous protein forming the main structural constituent of hair, feathers, hoofs, claws, horns, etc.Cells are laced with a network of fibres more rigid than the rope-like structural proteins collagen and keratin....
- Amino acids are absorbed by the body to help build keratin, the main protein in hair.
- Cat claws are made of keratin, a protein also found in human nails.
Origin
Mid 19th century: from Greek keras, kerat- 'horn' + -in1.
rhinoceros from Late Middle English:
It is the look of the rhinoceros that provides its name, which comes from Greek rhino- ‘nose’ and keras ‘horn’. The animal has been known in English since the end of the 14th century, but the first reference to it calls it a kind of unicorn. Rhino- will be familiar to gardeners from the antirrhinum (mid 16th century), the alternative name for the snapdragon, whose name means ‘counterfeiting a nose’ from its appearance, while keras appears in keratin (mid 19th century), the substance from which horn is made.
- strongback
- strong bark
- strong beer
- strong beggar
- strongbox
- strong-breathed
- strong breeze
- strong card
- strong drink
- strongers
- strong eye
- strong-eyed
- strong farmer
- strongful
- strong gale
- strong hand
- strong-handed
- strongheaded
- stronghold
- stronghouse
- strong interaction
- strongish
- strong joint
- strongle
- strong-like