cocaine English · revision 10651

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1874|origins=en coca}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /kəʊˈkeɪn/, US /koʊˈkeɪn/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is probably borrowed from French [[m|fr|cocaïne]] (1856),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) formed from [[coca]], from Spanish coca, from Quechua kuka,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) and the chemical suffix [[-ine]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Collins 2023) Etymonline credits the coinage to Albert Niemann of the University of Göttingen,^(Etymonline) and Merriam-Webster says it was originally formed as German Kokain.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The alkaloid obtained from coca leaves: 1874.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A medical coinage, the drug was used from the 1870s as a local anaesthetic.^(Etymonline) ''Cocainize'', to treat with cocaine, is from 1887,^(OED 1989) and ''cocainism'', addiction to cocaine, is recorded by 1885.^(Etymonline) Etymonline notes that although cocaine is pronounced in two syllables, it is formed of three.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1856 – French cocaïne.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1874 – cocaine.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1885 – cocainism.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1887 – cocainize.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An addictive [[narcotic]] drug made from coca leaves, used medically as a local anaesthetic and illegally as a [[stimulant]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[cocainism]]

+ * [[cocainize]]

+ * [[-caine]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[cokehead]]

+ * [[coca]]

+ * [[coke]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}