Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “polyvinylalcohol” come from?

polyvinylalcohol (English) comes from English polyvinyl, from English vinyl, from English -yl, from French méthylène, from Ancient Greek μέθυ, from Proto-Hellenic métʰu, from Proto-Indo-European médʰu — honey; honey wine, mead.

polyvinylalcohol (English): Alternative form of polyvinyl alcohol

Definitions

  1. Alternative form of polyvinyl alcohol

Ancestry of “polyvinylalcohol”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishpolyvinylcomposed of, or derived from, many vinyl groups;...
2EnglishvinylThe univalent radical CH=CH−, derived from...
3English-ylA univalent radical or functional group formed...
4Frenchméthylènemethylene
5Ancient Greekμέθυwine
6Proto-Hellenicmétʰuintoxicating drink; mead
7Proto-Indo-Europeanmédʰuhoney; honey wine, mead
Every word from Proto-Indo-European médʰu →