Etymology Explorer › English

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

  1. A chronic disease caused by compulsive and...

Ancestry of “alcoholism”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishalcoholAny of a class of organic compounds containing a...
2FrenchalcoholAlternative spelling of alcool
3Medieval Latinalcoholpowdered ore of antimony; kohl, collyrium,...
4Arabicكحلantimony; kohl, stibnite; black coloring of the...
5Arabicكُحْلantimony; kohl, stibnite
6Akkadianguḫlum—

Words derived from “alcoholism”

  • antialcoholism
Every word from Akkadian guḫlum →