Carbolineum

/ˌkɑːrbəˈlɪniəm/ noun

Definition

A toxic brown oily liquid made from coal tar that was historically used to preserve wood by killing insects and preventing rot.

Etymology

From German Carbolineum, a trade name combining Latin carbo (coal) and lineum (linseed oil). Developed in the 19th century as a wood preservative product.

Kelly Says

Carbolineum was so effective at killing wood-eating insects that it became a major industry product, but it was eventually phased out because it's incredibly toxic to humans and persists in the environment for decades—a cautionary tale about how useful chemicals can be environmental nightmares.

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