colostrum
[kuh-los-truh m]
- a yellowish liquid, especially rich in immune factors, secreted by the mammary gland of female mammals a few days before and after the birth of their young.
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Origin of colostrum
First recorded in 1570–80, colostrum is from the Latin word colostrum, colustrum beestings
Also called foremilk.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for colostrum
Historical Examples
Colostrum is rich in the very food that the baby calf needs.
Agriculture for BeginnersCharles William Burkett
Colostrum, ko-los′trum, n. the first milk of a mammal after parturition.
After the calf is a few days old, colostrum changes to what is commonly known as milk.
Agriculture for BeginnersCharles William Burkett
By nursing the colostrum out of the breasts, it will favor and hasten the secretion of milk.
The Eugenic Marriage, Volume I. (of IV.)W. Grant Hague, M.D.
colostrum
- the thin milky secretion from the nipples that precedes and follows true lactation. It consists largely of serum and white blood cells
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Word Origin
C16: from Latin, of obscure origin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for colostrum
n.
1570s, from Latin colostrum "first milk from an animal," of unknown origin.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
colostrum
(kə-lŏs′trəm)- The first milk secreted at the time of parturition, differing from the milk secreted later by containing more lactalbumin and lactoprotein, and also being rich in antibodies that confer passive immunity to the newborn.foremilk
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.