Where does “polytetrafluoroethylene” come from?

polytetrafluoroethylene (English) comes from English tetrafluoroethylene, from English ethylene, from English eth-, from English ethyl, from Ancient Greek Αἰθήρ, from Ancient Greek αἴθω, from Proto-Hellenic *áitʰō — to ignite.

polytetrafluoroethylene (English): A tough synthetic resin used to make seals and bearings and to create a nonstick coating on cooking utensils

Definitions

  1. A tough synthetic resin used to make seals and bearings and to create a nonstick coating on cooking utensils

Ancestry of “polytetrafluoroethylene”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishtetrafluoroethyleneThe gaseous unsaturated halogenated hydrocarbon,...
2EnglishethyleneThe common name for the organic chemical compound...
3Englisheth-Used as a combining form to denote the presence...
4EnglishethylThe univalent hydrocarbon radical, CH, formally...
5Ancient GreekΑἰθήρUpper Air
6Ancient GreekαἴθωTo ignite, kindle, light; To burn, blaze
7Proto-Hellenic*áitʰōto ignite
Every word from Proto-Hellenic *áitʰōEvery word from Ancient Greek αἴθωEvery word from Ancient Greek Αἰθήρ