SINCE 1828

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abortin

noun abort·in \ əˈbȯrtᵊn \

Definition of abortin

plural -s

: an extract made from cultures of a bacterium (Brucella abortus) and used in the diagnosis of contagious abortion of cattle

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Origin and Etymology of abortin

abort(ion) + -in (as intuberculin)

Note: This word first appears in the Report of the Departmental Committee Appointed by the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries to Inquire into Epizootic Abortion, authored by John McFadyean and Stuart Stockman (London: HSMO, 1909-13); and in an abstract of the report in The Veterinary Journal (vol. 16, September 1909): “Abortin.—A material analogous to tuberculin was prepared from cultures of the bacillus of cattle abortion.” (p. 474)

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First Known Use: 1909

in the meaning defined above

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