enzyme which brings about the hydrolysis of starch, 1885, from amyl + chemical suffix -ase.
Entries linking to amylase
amyl n.
hydrocarbon radical, 1850 (amyle), from Latin amylum "starch," from Greek amylon "fine meal, starch," noun use of neuter of adjective amylos "not ground at the mill," that is, "ground by hand," from a- "not" (see a- (3)) + myle "mill" (from PIE root *mele- "to crush, grind"). So called because it was first obtained from the distilled spirits of potato or grain starch (though it also is obtained from other sources). In 16c. English amyl meant "starch, fine flour."
-ase
word-forming element used in naming enzymes, from ending of diastase.