gallic acid

noun

Chemistry.

1. a white or yellowish, crystalline, sparingly water-soluble solid, C 7 H 6 O 5 , obtained from nutgalls, used chiefly in tanning and in ink dyes.

gallic acid

noun

1. a colourless crystalline compound obtained from tannin: used as a tanning agent and in making inks, paper, and pyrogallol; 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoic acid. Formula: C 6 H 2 (OH) 3 COOH

Word History and Origins

Origin of gallic acid¹

First recorded in 1785–95, gallic acid is from French acide gallique

Word History and Origins

Origin of gallic acid¹

C18: from French gallique; see _gall ³