oil

views updated

oil in early use, liquid expressed from the olive; later, any similar viscid smooth liquid. XII. ME. oli(e), oile — AN., ONF. olie, OF. oile (mod. huile) — L. oleum (olive) oil, for *oleiuom, *olaiwom — Gr. élai(F)on; cf. OLIVE. The adoption from F. ousted OE., ME. ele = OS., OHG. oli (Du. olie, G. öl) — popL. olium, L. oleum.
Hence oily (-Y1) XVI.

More From encyclopedia.com