Where does “petroleum” come from?

petroleum (Latin) comes from Latin oleum, from Ancient Greek ἔλαιον, from Ancient Greek ἐλαία, from Proto-Hellenic elaíwā, from Proto-Indo-European loiwom.

petroleum (Latin): petroleum

Definitions

  1. petroleum

Ancestry of “petroleum”, step by step

petroleum traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Latin oleum

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinoleumolive oil; the palaestra
2Ancient Greekἔλαιονolive oil, commonly used as an anointing oil; any...
3Ancient Greekἐλαίαolive tree; olive; naevus
4Proto-Hellenicelaíwā—
5Proto-Indo-Europeanloiwom—

via Latin petra

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinpetrastone, rock
2Ancient Greekπέτραrock formation: cliff, ledge, cave, ridge; stone

Words derived from “petroleum”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European loiwom →Every word from Proto-Hellenic elaíwā →Every word from Ancient Greek ἐλαία →