(ˈ)pal|mid.ik-, (ˈ)pä|m- noun
Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary palmit- + -ic; originally formed as French palmitique
: a waxy crystalline fatty acid CH 3 (CH 2 ) 14 COOH that occurs both free and combined in the form of glycerides and other esters in palm oil, butter fat, tallow, and most other fats and fatty oils, and also in several essential oils and waxes and that is used chiefly in mixtures with stearic acid — called also hexadecanoic acid