: the aromatic liquid ethyl ether C8H10O of phenol

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French phénétole, from phén- phen- + -ét- "the ethyl radical C2H5" (from éthyle ethyl) + -ole -ole

First Known Use

1850, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of phenetole was in 1850

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Phenetole.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/phenetole. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Medical Definition

phenetole

noun
: the aromatic liquid ethyl ether C8H10O of phenol
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!