Relating to or derived from carbolic acid (phenol), a powerful disinfectant historically used in medicine and sanitation.
From coal tar, which contains carbon-based compounds. The term developed in the 19th century when phenol was first isolated and used as an antiseptic.
Carbolic acid was the first widely-used antiseptic that actually saved lives—surgeons spraying carbolic solution during operations dropped death rates from infection dramatically in the 1860s!
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.