Etymograph

English

lanolin

Lanolin comes from English oleum ‘oil’, and goes back to Proto-Indo-European *h₂welh₁-.

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂welh₁-root as named
  2. English1500–presentoleum‘oil’
  3. Englishearliest quotation 2009lanolin

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂welh₁-root as named
  2. English1500–presentoleum‘oil’
  3. Englishearliest quotation 2009lanolin

Earliest quotation: 2009, Sarah Waters, The Little Stranger: “She was sitting cross-legged on the floor with a…”

Linked words

through Proto-Indo-European *h₂welh₁-

value, wild, equivalent, valid, velvet, valuation, wool, vale, avail, wield, fluff, vail, valour, valiant, flannel, cuckold, velour, valorous, woll, 44 more

Today it means

noun A greasy yellow substance chemically akin to wax that is secreted from wooly animals, with a variety of uses from rust prevention, lubrication and waterproofing to cosmetics and skin ointments.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *h₂welh₁- / lanolin

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