Where does “methamphetamine” come from?
Methamphetamine is a shortening of English alpha-methylphenethylamine, a systematic chemical name for a synthetic stimulant compound first synthesized in the late nineteenth century.
methamphetamine (English): A highly addictive phenethylamine stimulant drug,...
Definitions
- A highly addictive phenethylamine stimulant drug,...
Ancestry of “methamphetamine”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | amphetamine | The racemic freebase of 1-phenylpropan-2-amine;... |
| 2 | English | alpha-methylphenethylamine | Synonym of amphetamine |
| 3 | English | methylphenethylamine | Any of several isomeric C- or N- methyl... |
| 4 | English | phenethylamine | An aromatic amine which is a colorless liquid at... |
| 5 | English | ethylamine | a colourless, volatile liquid amine, CH-CH-NH... |
| 6 | English | ethyl | The univalent hydrocarbon radical, CH, formally... |
| 7 | Ancient Greek | Αἰθήρ | Upper Air |
| 8 | Ancient Greek | αἴθω | To ignite, kindle, light; To burn, blaze |
| 9 | Proto-Hellenic | *áitʰō | to ignite |