haemacyanin

1 definition found

haemacyanin - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Haemacyanin \H[ae]m`a*cy"a*nin\ (-s[imac]"[.a]*n[i^]n), n.
     [H[ae]ma- + Gr. ky`anos a dark blue substance.] (Physiol.
     Chem.)
     A substance found in the blood of the octopus, which gives to
     it its blue color.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: When deprived of oxygen it is colorless, but becomes
           quickly blue in contact with oxygen, and is then
           generally called oxyh[ae]macyanin. A similar blue
           coloring matter has been detected in small quantity in
           the blood of other animals and in the bile.
           [1913 Webster]