Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “pyroxylic” come from?

pyroxylic (English) comes from English pyro-, from Ancient Greek πῦρ, from Proto-Indo-European péh₂wr̥ — bonfire; spelt.

pyroxylic (English): Created by the destructive distillation of wood

Definitions

  1. Created by the destructive distillation of wood

Ancestry of “pyroxylic”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishpyro-fire, heat; fever; orthoacid
2Ancient Greekπῦρa fire; lightning; a fever
3Proto-Indo-Europeanpéh₂wr̥bonfire; spelt
Every word from Proto-Indo-European péh₂wr̥ →