Caffeine
/ˈkæfiːn/noun
A central nervous system stimulant found in coffee, tea, and various plants.
Did you know?In the 19th century, caffeine was often associated with the occult, believed to enhance psychic abilities and influence dreams.
Etymological Timeline
Late 17th Century
German
Kaffee
“The coffee drink, derived from the Arabic 'qahwa', originally meaning 'wine'.”
Early 18th Century
French
café
“A coffeehouse or establishment serving coffee.”
1820s
German
Caffein
“The alkaloid identified in coffee.”
1821
English
Caffeine
“The isolated compound derived from coffee, introduced into the English lexicon.”