Etymology Explorer › English

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

  1. A highly addictive phenethylamine stimulant drug,...

Ancestry of “methamphetamine”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishamphetamineThe racemic freebase of 1-phenylpropan-2-amine;...
2Englishalpha-methylphenethylamineSynonym of amphetamine
3EnglishmethylphenethylamineAny of several isomeric C- or N- methyl...
4EnglishphenethylamineAn aromatic amine which is a colorless liquid at...
5Englishethylaminea colourless, volatile liquid amine, CH-CH-NH...
6EnglishethylThe univalent hydrocarbon radical, CH, formally...
7Ancient GreekΑἰθήρUpper Air
8Ancient GreekαἴθωTo ignite, kindle, light; To burn, blaze
9Proto-Hellenic*áitʰō—

Words derived from “methamphetamine”

  • methamphetamines
  • levomethamphetamine
Every word from Proto-Hellenic *áitʰō →