Vaseline
proper noun
- trade name for petroleum jelly
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /ˈvæ.sə.liːn/ / /ˈvæ.sə.lin/
noun
Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *wed- Proto-Indo-European *-r̥ Proto-Indo-European *wódr̥ Proto-Germanic *watōr Proto-West Germanic *watar Old High German waȥȥar Middle High German wazzer German Wasser Proto-Hellenic *élaiwon Ancient Greek ἔλαιον (élaion) Proto-Indo-European *-nós Proto-Indo-European *-iHnos Proto-Italic *-īnos Latin -īnusder. Old French -inbor. Middle English -in English -ine English vaseline From German Wasser (“water”) + Ancient Greek ἔλαιον (élaion, “oil”) + -ine. Genericized trademark of the Vaseline brand of petroleum jelly introduced by American chemist Robert Augustus Chesebrough in 1872.
- Petroleum jelly.
“Hearts of putty, hearts of vaseline...”
- Any particular kind of petroleum jelly or of any similar lubricant.
“A Russian vaseline has been lately added to the many kinds of vaseline found in […]”
- Ellipsis of Vaseline glass, or the coloring used in making it.
verb
Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *wed- Proto-Indo-European *-r̥ Proto-Indo-European *wódr̥ Proto-Germanic *watōr Proto-West Germanic *watar Old High German waȥȥar Middle High German wazzer German Wasser Proto-Hellenic *élaiwon Ancient Greek ἔλαιον (élaion) Proto-Indo-European *-nós Proto-Indo-European *-iHnos Proto-Italic *-īnos Latin -īnusder. Old French -inbor. Middle English -in English -ine English vaseline From German Wasser (“water”) + Ancient Greek ἔλαιον (élaion, “oil”) + -ine. Genericized trademark of the Vaseline brand of petroleum jelly introduced by American chemist Robert Augustus Chesebrough in 1872.
- To lubricate with vaseline.
“Even at this late date, vaselining will preserve the best of these leathers.”