Etymology

hydroxyl

H4Y4D2R1O1X8Y4L1

Today it means: A univalent radical or functional group (–OH) in organic chemistry; present in alcohols, phenols, carboxylic acids and certain other classes of compounds. Full definition →

Ancient Greek ῡ̔́λη (hū́lē) ← Proto-Indo-European *swel-der.? ← English oxygen
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The story

  1. Proto-Indo-European*wed-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*wódr̥
  3. Proto-Hellenic*údōr
  4. Ancient Greekῡ̆̔́δωρ (hū̆́dōr)
  5. Ancient Greekὑδρο- (hudro-)
  6. Frenchhydro-
  7. Proto-Indo-European*ǵenh₁-
  8. Proto-Indo-European*ǵénh₁os
  9. Proto-Hellenic*génos
  10. Ancient Greekγένος (génos)
  11. Frenchhydrogène
  12. Englishhydrogen
  13. Proto-Indo-European*h₂eḱ-der.?
  14. Ancient Greekὀξύς (oxús)
  15. Ancient Greekγένος (génos)
  16. Frenchoxygène
  17. Englishoxygen
  18. Proto-Indo-European*swel-der.?
  19. Ancient Greekῡ̔́λη (hū́lē)
  20. English todayhydroxyl

From a blend of hydrogen + oxygen + -yl.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.