Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition

Noun.

[Etymology uncertain: cf. F.

orcine

(Chem.)

A colorless crystalline substance,

C6H3.CH3.(OH)2

, which is obtained from certain lichens (

Roccella

Lecanora

, etc.), also from extract of aloes, and artificially from certain derivatives of toluene. It changes readily into orcein.

orcin ‎(countable and uncountable, plural orcins)

(organic chemistry) The organic compound 3,5-dihydroxytoluene, found in many lichens and synthesizable from toluene.