/mahr gar"ik, -gahr"-/ , Chem.
a colorless, crystalline, water-insoluble, fatty acid, C 17 H 34 O 2 , resembling stearic acid, obtained from lichens or synthetically.
[ 1810-20; márgar ( on ) pearl (prob. back formation from margarítes; see MARGARITE) + -IC ]