LACTIC
lactic
(adjective) of or relating to or obtained from milk (especially sour milk or whey); “lactic acid”; “lactic fermentation”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Adjective
lactic (not comparable)
Of, relating to, or derived from milk
(biochemistry, of fermentation) That produces lactic acid
Source: Wiktionary
Lac"tic, a. Etym: [L. lac, lactis, milk: cf. F. lactique. See
Lacteal, and cf. Galactic.] (Physiol. Chem.)
Definition: Of or pertaining to milk; procured from sour milk or whey; as,
lactic acid; lactic fermentation, etc. Lactic acid (Physiol. Chem.),
a sirupy, colorless fluid, soluble in water, with an intensely sour
taste and strong acid reaction. There are at least three isomeric
modifications all having the formula C3H6O3. Sarcolactic or
paralactic acid occurs chiefly in dead muscle tissue, while ordinary
lactic acid results from fermentation. The two acids are alike in
having the same constitution (expressed by the name ethylidene lactic
acid), but the latter is optically inactive, while sarcolactic acid
rotates the plane of polarization to the right. The third acid,
ethylene lactic acid, accompanies sarcolactic acid in the juice of
flesh, and is optically inactive.
– Lactic ferment, an organized ferment (Bacterium lacticum or
lactis), which produces lactic fermentation, decomposing the sugar of
milk into carbonic and lactic acids, the latter, of which renders the
milk sour, and precipitates the casein, thus giving rise to the so-
called spontaneous coagulation of milk.
– Lactic fermentation. See under Fermentation.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition