/kahr"ni teen'/ , n. Biochem.
a dipolar compound that occurs in muscle and liver and is involved in the transport of fatty acids across the inner mitochondrial membrane.
[ 1920-25; Carnitin, equiv. to L carni- (comb. form of caro, gen. carnis meat, flesh) + -tin appar. arbitrarily chosen suffix (cf. -IN 2 , -INE 2 ); so called because it was first isolated in meat extract ]