English
nitrile
Derived from benzonitrile which contains the −C≡N group.
The story
Benzonitrile was discovered and named by Hermann Fehling in 1844.
Today it means
noun Any of a class of organic compounds containing a cyano functional group −C≡N; they are named as derivatives of the appropriate carboxylic acid.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / nitrile