melanin

2 definitions found

melanin - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Melanin \Mel"a*nin\, n. [Gr. me`las, me`lanos, black.]
     (Physiol.)
     A black pigment found in the pigment-bearing cells of the
     skin (particularly in the skin of the negro), in the
     epithelial cells of the external layer of the retina (then
     called fuscin), in the outer layer of the choroid, and
     elsewhere. It is supposed to be derived from the
     decomposition of hemoglobin.
     [1913 Webster]

melanin - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  melanin
      n 1: insoluble pigments that account for the color of e.g. skin
           and scales and feathers