Word Study
carbolic
CIDE DICTIONARY
carbolic, a. [L. carbo coal + oleum oil.].
Pertaining to, or designating, an acid derived from coal tar and other sources; as, carbolic acid (called also phenic acid, and phenol{1}). See Phenol. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
carbolic, n. (in full carbolic acid) phenol, esp. when used as a disinfectant.
Idiom
carbolic soap soap containing this.
Etymology
CARBO- + -OL(1) + -IC
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