Methanol
/ˈmɛθ.ən.ɔːl/noun
A colorless, flammable liquid with a chemical formula of CH₃OH, used as an industrial solvent and antifreeze.
Did you know?The 'meth' in methanol comes from the Greek word 'methy,' meaning 'wine,' tying it to ancient intoxicating spirits.
Etymological Timeline
Late 19th Century
English
Methanol
“Derived from 'methyl alcohol', a new term coined for a simple alcohol used in chemical processes.”
1810
French
Alcool méthylique
“The term used in chemistry to describe the first isolated simple alcohol.”
17th Century
Latin
Methylium
“Referring to the methyl group, connecting it to its chemical identity.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
Μέθυ (Methy)
“Meaning 'wine', symbolizing intoxicating properties of substances.”
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