Kerosene
/ˈkɛrəsiːn/noun
A flammable liquid hydrocarbon fuel distilled mainly from petroleum and used in lamps, heaters, and jet fuel.
Did you know?The name was coined in 1850 by Canadian physician and geologist Abraham Gesner after he developed a cleaner-burning lamp fuel from coal and bituminous materials.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
κῆρος (kēros)
“Wax; the source of the name because the early fuel had a waxy appearance or origin.”
Classical Latin
Latin
cēra
“Wax; a related form that produced several later scientific English terms.”
1850
New Latin
kerosene
“A coined technical name formed from Greek kēros, “wax,” with the chemical suffix -ene.”
19th Century
English
kerosene
“A refined combustible oil used chiefly for illumination in lamps.”
Modern English
English
kerosene
“A petroleum-derived fuel used in lamps, heaters, and aviation fuel.”