hirudin

[ hir-yuh-din, hir-uh-, hi-rood-n ]
/ ˈhɪr yə dɪn, ˈhɪr ə-, hɪˈrud n /

noun

a gray or white, water-soluble acidic polypeptide obtained from the buccal gland of leeches, used in medicine chiefly as an anticoagulant.

Origin of hirudin

First recorded in 1900–05; formerly trademark

British Dictionary definitions for hirudin

hirudin
/ (hɪˈruːdɪn) /

noun

med an anticoagulant extracted from the mouth glands of leeches

Word Origin for hirudin

C20: from Latin hirudin-, hirudo leech + -in

Medical definitions for hirudin

hirudin
[ hĭ-rōōdn, hîrə-dən, -yə- ]

n.

A substance extracted from the salivary glands of leeches and used as an anticoagulant.