octopine

English

Octopus octopodia (the common octopus) + -ine (chemically basic or alkaloidal substance)

Chemical structure of octopine.

octopine (plural octopines)

(biochemistry) An analog of lactic acid, derived from the amino acids arginine and alanine, first isolated from the muscle tissue of octopus species.

octopine (comparative more octopine, superlative most octopine)

Of, pertaining to, or resembling an octopus or octopuses; octopuslike.
- 1914, Gilbert Keith Chesterton, The Flying Inn, page 266:
  ...but the Captain preferred to swing himself onto one of the octopine branches with a whirl of large wild legs worthy of a chimpanzee.

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