Gabiann.
/ˈɡeɪbɪən/, U.S. /ˈɡeɪbiən/ Now rare and chiefly historical.
Gabian oil n. (also oil of Gabian) a kind of petroleum which seeps from rock strata near Gabian in southern France.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > minerals > types of mineral > hydrocarbon minerals > [noun] > oil > petroleum > types of
Gabian oil1696
green tar1737
roily oil1877
1696 W. Hope tr. J. de Solleysel Parfait Mareschal i. lxxiii. 202 The Oil of Gabian, is an Oily juice or rather Bitumen, which comes forth with the Water, in a spring near Besiers in Languedock.
1712 J. Browne tr. P. Pomet et al. Compl. Hist. Druggs I. iv. ix. 395/2 The black Petroleum, usually brought us from a Village in Languedoc, call'd Gabian, and from thence Oil of Gabian, is of a very unpleasant Smell.
1852 W. T. Brande Dict. Sci., Lit. & Art (ed. 2) Suppl. 1368/2 Gabian oil, a petroleum or mineral naphtha exuding from the strata at Gabian, a village in Languedoc.
1881 Daily Evening Bull. (San Francisco) 15 Mar. 3/8 A Paris chemist..named it Gabian oil, in order to prevent public prejudice.
1958 R. J. Forbes Stud. Early Petroleum Hist. i. 10 He is so convinced of the merits of the Gabian oil that he only mentions the most important competitor, the St. Catherine oil of Monte Zibio.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2018; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
n.1696