Relating to or derived from goats, or describing a fatty acid found in goat milk and coconut oil.
From Latin 'caper' (goat) + '-ic' (suffix meaning 'of or relating to'). The term entered scientific nomenclature in the 18th century when chemists identified and named organic compounds based on their sources, particularly capric acid from goat fat.
Capric acid is actually in your coconut oil and goat cheese—it's why some people find coconut oil easier to digest than other fats. The Romans noticed goats could thrive on almost nothing, so they named fat compounds after them to describe things that are versatile and common.
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