SC - Al-Cohol

[James Gilly / Alasdair mac Iain]

At 06:55 15-11-98 -0600, Bear wrote:
>"Alcohol of wine" appears in 1672.  Since
>alcohol is an English word, a check of the OED should provide some of the
>references required.

I just happen to have a copy right here.... 8)  [runs downstairs to grab
volume 1]

Alcohol   Also 6-8 alcool, alcho(h)ol, alcohole.  [a. med. L., *alcohol*
ad, Arab. *al-koh'l* 'collyrium,' the fine powder used to stain the
eyelids, f. *kahala*, Heb. *kakhal*, to stain, paint : see *Ezekiel* xxiii,
40.  It appeared in Eng., as in most of the mod. langs. in 16th c.  Cf, Fr.
*allcohol*, now *alcool*.]

     1.  *orig*. The fine metallic powder usedin the East to stain the
eyelids, etc. : powdered ore of antimony, stibnite, or antimony trisulphide
known to the Greeks in this use as
[Greek alphabet not reproducible here]; also, sometimes, powdered galena or
lead ore.  *Obs*.
     [citations omitted, the earliest being from 1615]

     2.  Hence, by extension (in early *Chem*.): Any fine impalpable powder
produced by trituration, or especially by sublimation; as *alcohol martis*
reduced iron, *alcohol of sulphur* flower of brimstone, etc.  *Obs*.
     [citations omitted, the earliest being from 1543]

     3.  By extension to fluids of the idea of sublimation: An essence,
quintessence, or 'spirit,' obtained by distillation or 'rectification'; as
*alcohol of wine*, essence or spirit of wine.  *Obs*.
     [citations omitted, the earliest being from 1594]

     b.  *fig*. Quintessence, condensed spirit.
     [one citation from 1830]

     4.  (Short for *alcohol of wine*, this being the most familiar of
'rectified spirits.')  The pure or rectified spirit of wine, the spirituous
or intoxicating element in fermented liquors.  Also, *popularly*, any
liquor containing this spirit.  *Absolute* or *anhydrous alcohol*: alcohol
entirely free from water.
     [citations omitted, the earliest being from 1753]

     [definition 5, referring to organic chemistry, omitted]


Alasdair mac Iain



Laird Alasdair mac Iain of Elderslie
Dun an Leomhain Bhig
Canton of Dragon's Aerie [southeastern CT]
Barony Beyond the Mountain  [northern & southeastern CT]
East Kingdom
- -------   -------   -------
Argent, a chevron cotised azure surmounted by a sword and in chief two
mullets sable
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