Nafta
/ˈnæftə/noun
A volatile, flammable liquid hydrocarbon mixture, especially a petroleum distillate.
Did you know?Ancient Greek writers described naphtha as a petroleum substance that could ignite on contact with flame, helping give natural bitumen an almost magical reputation.
Etymological Timeline
2nd millennium BCE or earlier
Akkadian
napṭu
“Petroleum, bitumen, or naturally occurring mineral oil”
Ancient Persian
Old Persian
naft
“Petroleum or naphtha”
Ancient Greek
Greek
νάφθα (náphtha)
“A volatile, inflammable petroleum substance”
1st Century BCE–1st Century CE
Latin
naphtha
“Naphtha or a highly flammable bituminous oil”
16th–18th Century
Italian
nafta
“Naphtha; petroleum-derived flammable liquid”
19th Century
English
nafta
“A petroleum distillate or volatile hydrocarbon mixture”
Modern English
English
nafta
“A volatile, flammable liquid hydrocarbon mixture”
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