n.
Pronunciation: ' kr ē - ə - ˌ s ō t
Function: noun
Etymology: German Kreosot, from Greek kreas flesh + s ō t ē r preserver, from s ō zein to preserve, from s ō s safe (prob. akin to Sanskrit tav ī ti he is strong); from its antiseptic properties ― more at RAW
Date: 1835
1 : a clear or yellowish flammable oily liquid mixture of phenolic compounds obtained by the distillation of tar derived from wood and especially from beech wood
2 : a brownish oily liquid consisting chiefly of aromatic hydrocarbons obtained by distillation of coal tar and used especially as a wood preservative
3 : a dark brown or black flammable tar deposited from especially wood smoke on the walls of a chimney
4 : CREOSOTE BUSH