Pentosan

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Pentosan \Pen"to*san\, n. Also -sane \-sane\ [From {Pentose}.]
     (Chem.)
     One of a class of substances (complex carbohydrates widely
     distributed in plants, as in fruits, gums, woods, hay, etc.)
     which yield pentoses on hydrolysis.
     [Webster 1913 Suppl.]