Etymology

propyl

P3R1O1P3Y4L1

Today it means: Either of two isomeric univalent hydrocarbon radicals, C₃H₇, formally derived from propane by the loss of a hydrogen atom. Full definition →

First used 1850French propyl- ← Ancient Greek ῡ̔́λη (hū́lē) ← Proto-Indo-European *swel-der.?
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The story

  1. Frenchpropionique
  2. Proto-Indo-European*swel-der.?
  3. Ancient Greekῡ̔́λη (hū́lē)
  4. Frenchpropyl-
  5. English todaypropyl

From the chemical prefix propyl-, from propylic or directly from earlier French propylique, from prop(ionique) + -yle + -ique, where -yle, as in French méthylène, is from ὕλη (húlē, “wood, substance”).

First known use, by meaning

  • from 1850 Either of two isomeric univalent hydrocarbon radicals, C₃H₇, formally derived from propane by the loss of a hydrogen atom.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.