# creosote

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈkɹiːəˌsəʊt/ · frequency rank #57,312

## Definitions
1. A pale yellow oily liquid, containing phenols and similar compounds, obtained by the destructive distillation of wood tar, once used medicinally.
2. A similar brown liquid obtained from coal tar used as a wood preservative.
3. The creosote bush.
4. A flammable black porous brittle glassy byproduct of wood burning, typically formed inside chimneys.

## Etymology
From German Kreosot in 1935, coined in 1832 by German natural philosopher Carl Ludwig, Baron Reichenbach, from Ancient Greek κρέας (kréas, “flesh”) + σωτήρ (sōtḗr, “preserver”) for its use as an antiseptic and meat-preservative. Creosote-bush named after its scent. By surface analysis, creo- + -sote.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/creosote