Etymologically
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vaseline

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 12 October 2026 at 11:29. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ˈvæ.sə.liːn/ (UK); /ˈvæ.sə.lin/ (US)[1]

Etymology

It was coined as a trademark by Robert A. Chesebrough,[2][3] from German Wasser (“water”), Ancient Greek ἔλαιον (élaion, “oil”) and the chemical suffix -ine.[4][2][5][3] The name reflects Chesebrough's belief that petroleum came from the decomposition of water underground.[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

A soft, greasy substance obtained from petroleum and used as an ointment or lubricant (1872 in Etymonline; 1874 in the OED and Barnhart; 1877 in Klein).[2][6][4][3]

Semantic evolution

It was marketed by the Chesebrough Manufacturing Company.[2] Partridge calls the formation “irresponsible”, like many trade names,[7] and Weekley adds an exclamation mark.[8] The verb, to rub or lubricate with Vaseline, dates from 1891.[6][9] In glassmaking Vaseline glass is a greenish-yellow glass of the colour of Vaseline (1966).[6][1]

Timeline

  • 1872 – the trademark (Etymonline).[2]
  • 1874 – first quotation in the OED.[6][4]
  • 1891 – verb, to apply Vaseline.[6]
  • 1966 – Vaseline glass.[6]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. (trademark) A brand of petroleum jelly, used as an ointment and lubricant; usually capitalized.
  2. Any petroleum jelly.

Verb

  1. To apply petroleum jelly to.
  • petrolatum
  • petroleum
  • oil
  • water

References

  1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ a b c Klein, Ernest. A Comprehensive Etymological Dictionary of the English Language. 2 vols. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 1966–1967.
  4. ^ a b c Barnhart, Robert K., ed. (1995), The Barnhart Concise Dictionary of Etymology, New York: HarperCollins
  5. ^ Hoad, T. F., ed. (1986), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ a b c d e f Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
  7. ^ Partridge, Eric (1966), Origins: A Short Etymological Dictionary of Modern English, 4th ed., London: Routledge & Kegan Paul
  8. ^ Weekley, Ernest (1921), An Etymological Dictionary of Modern English, London: John Murray
  9. ^ Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster