Where does “methane” come from?

Methane derives from English methyl, from Ancient Greek méthу meaning "wine," plus the English suffix -an, with the base ultimately from Proto-Indo-European médʰu meaning "honey" or "sweet drink."

methane (English): The simplest aliphatic hydrocarbon, CH₄, being a...

Definitions

  1. The simplest aliphatic hydrocarbon, CH₄, being a...

Ancestry of “methane”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishmethylThe univalent hydrocarbon radical, CH-, formally...
2GermanMethylmethyl
3Ancient Greekμέθυwine
4Proto-Hellenicmétʰuintoxicating drink; mead
5Proto-Indo-Europeanmédʰuhoney; honey wine, mead

Words derived from “methane

Every word from Proto-Indo-European médʰu