creosote

Coined in 1832 by Carl Reichenbach as German Kreosot, a learned formation from Ancient Greek κρέας (kréas, “flesh”) + σωτήρ (sōtḗr, “preserver”), after the substance's antiseptic quality. Adopted in English by 1835.

This etymology is incomplete. You can help Wiktionary by elaborating on the origins of this term. Sense development of the plant name needs explanation.

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈkɹiːəˌsəʊt/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈkɹiːəˌsoʊt/

creosote (countable and uncountable, plural creosotes)

1. A pale yellow oily liquid, containing phenols and similar compounds, obtained by the destructive distillation of wood tar, once used medicinally.
2. A similar brown liquid obtained from coal tar used as a wood preservative.
3. (countable) The creosote bush.
   • 1994, John Alcock, Sonoran Desert Summer, page 88:

     On Shaw Butte, as elsewhere in the Phoenix area, creosotes are abundant, producing a plethora of small yellow flowers in late March and April.

4. A flammable black porous brittle glassy byproduct of wood burning, typically formed inside chimneys.

creosote (third-person singular simple present creosotes, present participle creosoting, simple past and past participle creosoted)

1. (transitive) To apply creosote.

   As the fence is exposed he will creosote it for protection.

   • 1907, E.M. Forster, The Longest Journey, Part I, III [Uniform ed., p. 45]:

     Agnes was leaning over the creosoted garden gate …

• creosote bush

• e-scooter

creosote

1. inflection of creosotar:
   1. first/third-person singular present subjunctive
   2. third-person singular imperative