[1885–90; petrol(eum) + -i- + -ferous]This word is first recorded in the period 1885–90. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: foregut, lineup, retread, upsweep, zoom-i- is the typical ending of the first element of compounds of Latin words, as -o- is of Greek words, but often used in English with a first element of any origin,if the second element is of Latin origin. Other words that use the affix -i- include: Frenchify, cuneiform; -ferous is a combining form meaning “bearing,” “producing,” “yielding,” “containing,” “conveying,”used in the formation of compound words. Other words that use the affix -ferous include: coniferous, pestiferous