What does haematoxylin mean?
Haematoxylin is a chemical dye derived from the heartwood of logwood, a tropical American hardwood historically used to make inks and dyes. Its best-known modern use is in histology, especially haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, which renders cell nuclei blue to purple and surrounding tissue pink. Haematoxylin itself changes through oxidation to haematein, the intensely coloured form responsible for the characteristic nuclear stain. The term is specialised scientific vocabulary rather than an everyday word, and its spelling varies between British haematoxylin and American hematoxylin. Knowing it clarifies the names of routine laboratory stains and links a familiar slide preparation to an unusual botanical source. It is also a memorable example of how a plant product can become embedded in the standard language of medicine and biology.
nounA dye compound obtained from the heartwood of logwood and used to colour cell nuclei in histological preparations, especially in combination with eosin. It is oxidized to haematein during staining, producing the characteristic blue-to-purple nuclear colour.
- A histological stain used to colour cell nuclei blue to purple, commonly as part of haematoxylin and eosin staining.
- A dye compound obtained from logwood and formerly used in inks and for colouring wood, leather, and textiles.
"The pathologist used haematoxylin to stain the cell nuclei blue-purple."
"The tissue section was counterstained with eosin after haematoxylin revealed the cell nuclei."
"A drop of haematoxylin was added to the section before it was rinsed and counterstained with eosin."
The plural is rare; the term is normally used as an uncountable noun.
"The study compared the staining properties of two haematoxylins."
Behind every classic pink-and-purple microscope slide is a tree: haematoxylin comes from logwood.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does haematoxylin come from?
The word was formed in scientific Latin from Greek haima, meaning “blood”, and xylon, meaning “wood”. The components literally mean “bloodwood”, a name historically associated with logwood. The modern English form refers to the dye compound extracted from the wood.
How haematoxylin is actually used
This is specialised scientific and laboratory vocabulary, especially common in histology and pathology. British spelling normally uses haematoxylin, while US usage commonly writes hematoxylin; the substance is usually treated as a mass noun.
Easily confused with haematoxylin
Haematein is the oxidized product formed from haematoxylin and is the principal dye-bearing species in many histological staining solutions, whereas haematoxylin names the parent compound and the stain made from it.