creosote

What it means

1. countableuncountableA pale yellow oily liquid, containing phenols and similar compounds, obtained by the destructive distillation of wood tar, once used medicinally.
2. countableuncountableA similar brown liquid obtained from coal tar used as a wood preservative.
3. countableThe creosote bush.

   On Shaw Butte, as elsewhere in the Phoenix area, creosotes are abundant, producing a plethora of small yellow flowers in late March and April.

   1994, John Alcock, Sonoran Desert Summer, page 88

   1 more example

   "King Clone," a creosote plant (Larrea tridentata) found in southwest California, was estimated in February 1980 by Prof. Frank C. Vasek to be 11,700 years old.

   1997, Norris McWhirter, The Guinness Book of World Records 1997, page 77

In a sentence

On Shaw Butte, as elsewhere in the Phoenix area, creosotes are abundant, producing a plethora of small yellow flowers in late March and April.

1994, John Alcock, Sonoran Desert Summer, page 88

Where it comes from

1. Ancient Greekκρέας“flesh”
2. GermanKreosot
3. Englishcreosote

From German Kreosot in the 1830s, 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. The creosote bush was named after its scent. By surface analysis, containing creo-.