Etymology

rotenone

R1O1T1E1N1O1N1E1

Today it means: A toxic crystalline substance obtained from the roots of derris and related plants, widely used as an insecticide. Full definition →

Hokkien 蘆藤 /芦藤
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The story

  1. Hokkien · derived from蘆藤 /芦藤“Derris elliptica”
  2. English todayrotenone

From Japanese ローテン (rōten) + -one (“ketone”), from Hokkien 蘆藤 /芦藤 (lôo-tîn, “Derris elliptica”).

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.