Vaselin

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Vaseline \Vas"e*line\, n. [Said by the manufacturer to be
     derived from G. wasser water + Gr. 'e`laion olive oil.]
     A yellowish translucent substance, almost odorless and
     tasteless, obtained as a residue in the purification of crude
     petroleum, and consisting essentially of a mixture of several
     of the higher members of the paraffin series. It is used as


     an unguent, and for various purposes in the arts. See the
     Note under {Petrolatum}. [Written also {vaselin}.]
     [1913 Webster]