proteinyoudaoicibaDictYouDict[protein 词源字典]
protein: [19] The word protein was coined (as French protéine) by the Dutch chemist Mulder in the late 1830s. He based it on late Greek prōteios ‘primary’, a derivative of Greek prótos ‘first’ (see PROTOZOA), the notion being that proteins were substances of ‘primary’ importance to the proper functioning of the body.
[protein etymology, protein origin, 英语词源]
protein (n.)youdaoicibaDictYouDict
1844, from French protéine, coined 1838 by Dutch chemist Gerhard Johan Mulder (1802-1880), perhaps on suggestion of Berzelius, from Greek proteios "the first quality," from protos "first" (see proto-) + -ine (2).

Originally a theoretical substance thought to be essential to life, further studies of the substances he was working with overthrew this, but the words protein and proteid continued to be used in international work on the matter and also for other organic compounds; the modern use as a general name for a class of bodies arose in German. The confusion became so great a committee was set up in 1907 to sort out the nomenclature, which it did, giving protein its modern meaning and banishing proteid.