a. Chem. [f. SORB1 + -IC.] Contained in, derived from, the berries of the mountain-ash, Sorbus (now Pyrus) aucuparia. Chiefly in sorbic acid.
1815. Donovan, in Phil. Trans., I. 243. Until a better name be devised, I have called it the Sorbic Acid.
1819. J. G. Children, Chem. Anal., 278. Sorbic acid exists in the sorbus aucuparia; it is a transparent, colourless, inodorous fluid.
1860. Hofmann, in Q. Jrnl. Chem. Soc., XII. 43. I propose to designate this beautiful body by the name of sorbic acid, reviving thus a name once used for malic acid.
1862. Miller, Elem. Chem., Org. (ed. 2), v. § 4. 410. The general formula … of the sorbic group. Ibid., 411. The substance … becomes crystallized as sorbic acid.
1868. Watts, Dict. Chem., V. 352. Ethylic Sorbate or Sorbic ether.
