methanol

Meaning

The simplest aliphatic alcohol, CH₃OH; a colourless, toxic, inflammable liquid, used as a solvent, antifreeze, in the chemical industry, and in the preparation of methylated spirit.

Synonyms

methyl alcohol

wood alcohol

wood spirit

carbinol

methylated spirits

methylene

methyl alcoh

wood alcoh-

columbian spirits

Translations

Methanol

méthanol

metanol

metanolo

metanol

Methylalkohol

ميثانول

μεθανόλη

Holzgeist

alcool méthylique

alcohol metílico

metanol

alcool metilico

Etymology

Cognate with Ancient Greek: μέθυ

In summary

From methane + -ol.
French chemists Jean-Baptiste Dumas and Eugene Peligot, after determining methanol's chemical structure, introduced "methylene" from the Ancient Greek μέθυ (méthu, “wine”) + ὕλη (húlē, “wood, material”) with the intention of highlighting its origins, "alcohol made from wood (substance)".