vaseline
The origin and history of vaseline.
Etymology
A trademark name combining German Wasser ("water") and Greek elaion ("oil"), registered by chemist Robert Chesebrough in 1872. It has since become genericized, the way "hoover" or "thermos" did.
Class of 1872
vaseline first entered the language around 1872. Other words from the same year:
See the full Class of 1872 →