I. ˈkrē-ə-ˌsōt noun
Etymology: German Kreosot, from Greek kreas flesh + sōtēr preserver, from sōzein to preserve, from sōs safe (probably akin to Sanskrit tavīti 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
II. transitive verb
( -sot·ed ; -sot·ing )
Date: 1836
: to treat with creosote