Oil
/ɔɪl/noun
A slippery, viscous liquid of plant, animal, or mineral origin used for fuel, cooking, lubrication, or ritual purposes.
Did you know?The word ultimately came into English through Latin and Old French, and its ancient relatives are tied to olive oil, the substance that fueled lamps, ritual anointing, and early Mediterranean economies.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*elai-
“An ancient root associated with olive oil and olives.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
ἐλαίᾱ (elaíā) / ἔλαιον (élaion)
“Olive tree; olive oil.”
Latin
Latin
oleum
“Olive oil; later, oil more generally.”
Old French
Old French
olie / oile
“Oil.”
Middle English
English
oyle
“Oil.”
Modern English
English
oil
“A liquid fat or petroleum-based substance used in many practical applications.”