menthol
/ˈmɛnθɒl
/ /ˈmɛnθ(ə)l/noun [mass noun]
A crystalline alcohol with a minty taste and odour, found in peppermint and other natural oils. It is used as a flavouring and in decongestants and analgesics.
- Chemical formula: C10H19OH.
- If you lip balm contains phenol, camphor, menthol, peppermint oil or eucalyptus, it's most likely making your lips more chapped than not.
- Any products that contain alcohol or menthol should be avoided because they remove natural lipids and may worsen the skin's reaction.
Origin
Late 19th century: from German, from Latin mentha 'mint' + -ol.
mint from Old English:
Latin moneta is the source of both mint and of money. The phrase in mint condition, ‘new or as new’, refers to a newly minted coin, and people have made a mint, or a great deal of money, since the late 16th century. The mint (Old English) that refers to the plant used as a flavouring is an entirely different word, which goes back to Greek minthē which also lies behind menthol (mid 19th century).
- pistolgraph
- pistol grip
- pistol hand
- pistolier
- pistol man
- pistol-packer
- pistol-packing
- pistol pocket
- pistol-proof
- pistol range
- pistolship
- pistol shot
- pistol shrimp
- pistol-whip
- pistol-wise
- pistomesite
- piston
- piston bellows
- piston core
- piston corer
- piston core sampler
- piston drill
- piston engine
- piston-engined
- piston head