English
terpene
Terpene comes from German Terpentin ‘turpentine’, and goes back to Ancient Greek τερεβινθίνη.
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEτερεβινθίνη
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400terbentine
- Middle Dutchc. 1150–1500terpentijn
- Germanc. 1650–presentTerpentin‘turpentine’
- German, derivedc. 1650–presentTerpen
- Englishearliest quotation 2007terpene
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEτερεβινθίνη
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400terbentine
- Middle Dutchc. 1150–1500terpentijn
- Germanc. 1650–presentTerpentin‘turpentine’
- German, derivedc. 1650–presentTerpen
- Englishearliest quotation 2007terpene
Earliest quotation: 2007, Shibu Jose, Eric J. Jokela: “Naval stores production is based upon exploiting the terpene…”
The story
From German Terpen, coined by August Kekulé in 1866 in analogy to German Terpentin, from Latin terebinthina. Piecewise doublet of terpin; compare also terebinth and turpentine.
Linked words
through Old French terbentine
Today it means
noun Any of a very large class of naturally occurring and synthetic organic compounds formally derived from the hydrocarbon isoprene; they include many volatile compounds used in perfume and food flavours, turpentine, the steroids, the carotene pigments and rubber.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Ancient Greek τερεβινθίνη / terpene