Where does “butane” come from?
Butane is a back-formation from butyl, which derives from butyric acid, ultimately from Latin butyrum meaning butter.
butane (English): A hydrocarbon found in gaseous petroleum...
Definitions
- A hydrocarbon found in gaseous petroleum...
Ancestry of “butane”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | but- | Denotes the presence of four carbon atoms in the... |
| 2 | Ancient Greek | βούτῡρος | butter |
Words derived from “butane”