Dextrine

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A carbohydrate obtained from starch degradation, often utilized for its thickening properties in culinary applications and as a bonding agent in industrial contexts
2. A type of polysaccharide produced via starch hydrolysis, typically employed to enhance texture in food and as a glue-like substance in various industries
3. A carbohydrate formed by breaking down starch, frequently used to thicken foods and as an adhesive in manufacturing

Etymology: Dextrine is a spelling variant of "dextrin," the same chemical name with an older ending. The "dextr-" part comes from Latin "dexter," meaning "right," and the name points to a property of these substances: solutions of them rotate plane-polarised light to the right. Chemists formed the name from that optical behaviour, so the word is a technical coinage rather than an old folk term. The "-ine" ending was once standard in chemical names, which is why this spelling appeared. Over time, the form ending in "-in" became the preferred spelling, and "dextrine" survives mainly as a dated variant. The substance itself is what you get when starch is broken down by heat, acid, or enzymes, and its sticky, adhesive quality explains its use in glues and as a thickener in food.