/pe'treuh lay"teuhm, -lah"-/ , n.
a yellowish or whitish, translucent, gelatinous, oily, semisolid, amorphous mass obtained from petroleum: used as a lubricant, rust preventive, in the manufacture of cosmetics, and in medicine as a protective dressing, emollient, and ointment base. Also called petroleum jelly .
[ 1885-90, Amer.; 2 ]