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).
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