Decaffeinate
/diːˈkæf.ɪ.neɪt/noun
To remove caffeine from coffee or another substance.
Did you know?“Decaffeinate” is a modern back-formation built from the chemical name caffeine, which itself was coined from coffee’s Arabic-to-European journey, so even your “de-caf” has ancient coffee history hiding inside it.
Etymological Timeline
Early 19th Century
French
caféine
“A word coined for the stimulant principle found in coffee”
1830s
German
Koffein
“The chemical alkaloid isolated from coffee”
Late 19th Century
English
caffeine
“The stimulant compound found in coffee and tea”
Early 20th Century
English
decaffeinate
“To remove caffeine from coffee or other beverages”
Explore more surprising origins