collagen

From French collagène, coined from Ancient Greek κόλλα (kólla, “glue”) and -γενής (-genḗs, “-forming”) (see -gen); it is the main substance that animal glues are derived from. Doublet of collage, colloid, and protocol.

• IPA^(key): /ˈkɒləd͡ʒən/, /ˈkɒləd͡ʒɪn/

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collagen (countable and uncountable, plural collagens)

1. (biochemistry) Any of more than 28 types of glycoprotein that form elongated fibers, usually found in the extracellular matrix of connective tissue.
   • 1843, R. F. Marchand, “On the Chemical Composition of the Bones”, in The Chemist, volume 4, page 57:

     Science cannot yet account for the conversion of collagen into gelatin.