heroin
The origin and history of heroin.
Etymology
Coined in German in the 1890s as Heroin, originally a brand name, built from Greek hḗrōs ("hero") plus the chemical suffix "-in." It was marketed as a supposedly "heroic," powerful cure for coughs and pain before its addictiveness became clear.
Class of 1890
heroin first entered the language around 1890. Other words from the same year:
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