[mod. f. Gr. ἐρυθρο- ERYTHRO- + -GEN2 ‘producer.’]
1. Bot. ‘A term for a variety of the supposed colouring matter of vegetables, called Chromogen, because it produces a red colour with acids.’ (Syd. Soc. Lex.)
2. Chem. ‘A crystalline, fatty substance obtained from diseased bile; so called from the reddish or purple color of some of its compounds’ (Watts, Dict. Chem., 1882).
1846. Worcester cites Penny Cyclop.; and in mod. Dicts.
