/sfing"geuh seen', -sin/ , n. Biochem.
a basic unsaturated amino alcohol, C 18 H 33 (OH) 2 NH 2 , produced by the hydrolysis of sphingomyelin or gangliosides.
[ 1881; earlier sphingosin, equiv. to sphingo-, comb. form repr. Gk sphínx SPHINX + intrusive -s- + -IN 2 ; so called in allusion to the enigmas it posed for its discoverer ]