Vaselines

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A soft, greasy substance made from petroleum that is applied to the skin for moisture protection or lubrication
2. A semi-solid mixture derived from petroleum used to soothe dry skin and prevent chafing
3. A jelly-like petroleum derivative commonly used to keep skin hydrated and act as a barrier against irritation

Etymology: Robert Augustus Chesebrough, an American chemist, introduced the petroleum jelly under the Vaseline name in 1872, and the word has since become a genericized trademark. Its coinage is a hybrid: "Wasser," the German word for water, was combined with the Ancient Greek "elaion," meaning oil, and the English suffix "-ine." Chesebrough, whose brand name was built from these pieces, produced a word that mixes German and Greek in a way that suggests a watery oil. Because "vaseline" is a brand-derived noun, its plural "vaselines" simply refers to multiple tubs, jars, or products of that jelly, and it has been treated as a common noun in ordinary English usage. The plural form adds no separate history of its own; it inherits everything from the coinage described above.

Synonyms: petrolatum, ointment, salve, grease, balm