ichthyol

I1C3H4T1H4Y4O1L1

noun

The ammonium salt of sulfonated bitumen; used to treat some forms of skin diseases

OriginAncient Greek ἰχθύς →
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Meanings

nounichthyol (countable and uncountable, plural ichthyols)

plural ichthyols

  1. countableuncountablemedicineThe ammonium salt of sulfonated bitumen; used to treat some forms of skin diseases

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekἰχθύς“fish”
  2. Englishichthyol

Ancient Greek ἰχθύς (ikhthús, “fish”) + -ol, since it is an oily mixture prepared by dry distillation of a bituminous mineral containing fossil fishes.

More words from Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 魚石脂 /鱼石脂
  • 魚石脂 /鱼石脂ammonium salt of bitumen sulfonate
French ichtyol
  • ichtyolammonium salt of bitumen sulfonate
Italian ittiolo
  • ittioloammonium salt of bitumen sulfonate
Polish ichtiol
  • ichtiolammonium salt of bitumen sulfonate
Russian ихтиол
  • ихтиол (ixtiol)ammonium salt of bitumen sulfonate
Cite this entry
APA

ichthyol. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ichthyol

MLA

“ichthyol.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ichthyol. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “ichthyol,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ichthyol.

Source: ichthyol on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.