propane

Forms

propane m (plural propanes)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from English propane, coined in 1866 by Hofmann.^[2][3][4] The TLFi describes it as formed of the element prop-, as in propyle, and the suffix -ane, comparing the English word.^[5]

The English word is taken from propionic (acid), itself from French propionique (1847), formed from pro- and Ancient Greek πίων (píōn, “fat”): it meant the “first fatty acid”, since the makers of the word did not count formic and acetic acid in the series.^[2][3][6][7]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in 1870, in the Annales de chimie et de physique, as the name of a saturated hydrocarbon.^[5][6]

Semantic evolution

The DHLF and the Grand Robert date the word to before 1875, in Wurtz.^[2][3] It names the third member of the series of saturated hydrocarbons, once called paraffins and now alkanes, a flammable gas found in natural gas; it is less common than butane.^[2][8]

Derivatives include propanol, borrowed in 1904 from English,^[2] and propanier, a ship that carries propane (1968).^[5]

Timeline

• 1866 – Hofmann coins English propane.^[2][7]
• 1870 – First French record, in the Annales de chimie et de physique.^[5][6]
• 1875 – Larousse records it.^[8]
• 1904 – Propanol is borrowed from English.^[2]
• 1968 – Propanier is recorded.^[5]

Meanings

Noun

1. (chemistry) Propane, a saturated hydrocarbon (C₃H₈), a colourless flammable gas taken from petroleum and natural gas and used as a fuel.^[5][6][4]

Word family

• propanier

Related words

• propanol
• propyle
• propionique
• butane
• Ancient Greek πίων (píōn)

References

1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
3. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b Wiktionnaire (French Wiktionary), fr.wiktionary.org
5. ^ a b c d e f Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
6. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
8. ^ a b Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse