Word Archaeology: biliverdin

This is a green pigment found in bile that’s part of the degradation process of hemoglobin to bilirubin. It’s responsible for the green color seen in bruises on human skin and can also be symptomatic of jaundice. It can also be found in blue and green avian egg shells. The Swedish word, first used in 1845, is derived from the Latin “bilis” and the obsolete French “verd” (for green).

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Wes Platt

Lead storyteller. Game designer and journalist. Recovering Floridian.

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