Where does “alcoholism” come from?
Alcoholism derives from alcohol, which comes from French alcohol, from Arabic كحل meaning a fine powder used for eye cosmetics, ultimately from Aramaic כוחלא.
alcoholism (English): A chronic disease caused by compulsive and...
Definitions
- A chronic disease caused by compulsive and...
Ancestry of “alcoholism”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | alcohol | Any of a class of organic compounds containing a... |
| 2 | French | alcohol | Alternative spelling of alcool |
| 3 | Medieval Latin | alcohol | powdered ore of antimony; kohl, collyrium,... |
| 4 | Arabic | كحل | antimony; kohl, stibnite; black coloring of the... |
| 5 | Arabic | كُحْل | antimony; kohl, stibnite |
| 6 | Akkadian | guḫlum | kohl, antimony paste |