creosote
noun
- viscous, plant-derived substance used as a preservative or protective coating
verb
No English definition recorded for this entry.
L331295 on Wikidata ↗Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /ˈkɹiːəˌsəʊt/ / /ˈkɹiːəˌsoʊt/
noun
Etymology: From German Kreosot in the 1830s, coined in 1832 by German natural philosopher Carl Ludwig, Baron Reichenbach, from Ancient Greek κρέας (kréas, “flesh”) + σωτήρ (sōtḗr, “preserver”) for its use as an antiseptic and meat-preservative. The creosote bush was named after its scent. By surface analysis, containing creo-.
- A pale yellow oily liquid, containing phenols and similar compounds, obtained by the destructive distillation of wood tar, once used medicinally.
- A similar brown liquid obtained from coal tar used as a wood preservative.
- The creosote bush.
“On Shaw Butte, as elsewhere in the Phoenix area, creosotes are abundant, producing a plethora of small yellow flowers in late March and April.”
“"King Clone," a creosote plant (Larrea tridentata) found in southwest California, was estimated in February 1980 by Prof. Frank C. Vasek to be 11,700 years old.”
- A flammable black porous brittle glassy byproduct of wood burning, typically formed inside chimneys.
verb
Etymology: From German Kreosot in the 1830s, coined in 1832 by German natural philosopher Carl Ludwig, Baron Reichenbach, from Ancient Greek κρέας (kréas, “flesh”) + σωτήρ (sōtḗr, “preserver”) for its use as an antiseptic and meat-preservative. The creosote bush was named after its scent. By surface analysis, containing creo-.
- To apply creosote.
“As the fence is exposed he will creosote it for protection.”
“Agnes was leaning over the creosoted garden gate …”