Chem. [f. L. fruct-us fruit + -OSE.] Fruit sugar or lævulose. Also applied to the sugar found in fruit, which consists of variable proportions of lævulose and dextrose (Syd. Soc. Lex., 1885).
1864. in Webster.
1893. P. F. Frankland, Secr. Friends & Foes, 104. One of the principal artificial sugars prepared by Fischer is called fructose.
1894. Gould, Illustr. Dict. Med., Fructose, C6 H12 O6 Fruit-sugar, formerly called levulose.