from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Glycolic \Gly*col"ic\, a. (Chem.)
Pertaining to, or derived from, glycol; as, glycolic ether;
glycolic acid.
[1913 Webster]
{Glycolic acid} (Chem.), an organic acid, found naturally in
unripe grapes and in the leaves of the wild grape
({Ampelopsis quinquefolia}), and produced artificially in
many ways, as by the oxidation of glycol, -- whence its
name. It is a sirupy, or white crystalline, substance,
{HO.CH2.CO2H}, has the properties both of an alcohol and
an acid, and is a type of the hydroxy acids; -- called
also {hydroxyacetic acid}.
[1913 Webster]