Alcohol
/ˈæl.kə.hɒl/noun
A colorless volatile liquid used as a solvent and in beverages, produced by fermentation.
Did you know?The term 'alcohol' originally referred to a fine powder used in alchemy, believed to hold mystical properties.
Etymological Timeline
Arabic
Arabic
al-kuḥl
“The kohl powder used for eye makeup, considered a magical substance.”
Medieval Latin
Medieval Latin
alcohol
“Referring to any distillate, especially in the context of alchemical practices.”
16th Century
English
alcohol
“Adopted into English from Medieval Latin, emphasizing its use in distillation.”
Modern English
English
alcohol
“Used to denote the intoxicating component of fermented beverages.”