thymol Chem.
(ˈθaɪmɒl)
[f. Gr. θύµον thyme + -ol.]
The phenol of cymene, C10H13.OH, obtained from oil of thyme, also from the volatile oil of horse-mint, crystallizing in transparent rhomboidal plates; a powerful antiseptic.
| 1857 Miller Elem. Chem. III. 446 Thymole [ed. 1862 thymol], C20H14O2, is isomeric with cuminic alcohol; it..constitutes about one-half of the essence of thyme. 1876 Harley Royle's Mat. Med. 474 Oil of Thyme..consists of a fluid portion, separable into cymene.., and thymene.., and of a solid crystalline body called thymol.., which has a very pungent taste, and the aroma of the crude oil. 1911 Contemp. Rev. Feb. 231 The destruction of the parasite in its intermediary host [man] by quinine or thymol. |
b. attrib. and Comb.
| 1883 Athenæum 10 Mar. 316/2 When thymolsulphonic acid is treated with nitric acid, paranitrothymol is formed. 1884 Health Exhib. Catal. 62/1 ‘Thymol-Cresol’ Disinfecting Powder. 1899 J. Cagney Jaksch's Clin. Diagn. vii. (ed. 4) 344 Thymol appears in the urine as thymol sulphuric, thymol glycuronic..acids. 1911 Dorland Med. Dict. (ed. 6) s.v. Thymol, Thymol-camphor, a compound of thymol and camphor. Ibid., Thymol-gauze, gauze impregnated with a 1 per cent. solution of thymol. Ibid., Thymol-inhalation, -solution [etc.]. |
Hence ˈthymolate, a compound of thymol, in which the hydrogen of the OH group is replaced by a metal; thyˈmolic a., of or pertaining to thymol, chiefly in compounds, as sulpho-thymolic acid, C10H14SO4; ˈthymolize v., trans. to treat (a solution) with thymol (as a preservative); thyˈmoloform = thymoform.
| 1880 Athenæum 27 Nov. 713/1 The authors..have thus prepared aluminic methylate,..cresylate, and thymolate. 1900 Helen Baldwin in Jrnl. Exper. Med 1 Oct. 30 The urine should be thymolized..to prevent fermentation. 1911 Dorland Med. Dict. (ed. 6), Thymoloform, a yellowish powder, a product of formaldehyd and thymol. |