English
xylitol
Xylitol may come from Ancient Greek ξύλον ‘wood’.
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEξύλονxúlon‘wood’uncertain
- Englishearliest quotation 2019xylitol
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Earlier history uncertain.
Lineage
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEξύλονxúlon‘wood’uncertain
- Englishearliest quotation 2019xylitol
Earliest quotation: 2019, Matt Dorsey, Jenny Dorsey: “A note of caution to readers with pets: Xylitol…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *kes- ‘to scrape’
through Ancient Greek ξύλον ‘wood’
Today it means
noun A pentahydric alcohol, C₅H₁₂O₅, penta-hydroxy pentane; derived from xylose; used as a sweetener.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Ancient Greek ξύλον / xylitol