camphor oil

noun

1. a colorless liquid obtained from the wood of the camphor tree by distillation and separation from the solid camphor, used in varnish, soaps, and shoe polish, and in medicine chiefly as a rubefacient.

camphor oil

1. The oil that is obtained from the wood of the camphor tree and is used to make camphor. It is extracted from the wood by steam distillation.

Word History and Origins

Origin of camphor oil¹

First recorded in 1830–40

Example Sentences

If the manufacture of lampblack from the cheap camphor oil is conducted on a large scale, it would no doubt be profitable.

From Project Gutenberg

The author has succeeded in preparing various varnishes with the camphor oil, mixed with different resins and oils.

From Project Gutenberg

Lampblack was also prepared by the author, by subjecting the camphor oil to incomplete combustion.

From Project Gutenberg

Camphor oil; Oleum camphor factitium, L. Prepared by dissolving camphor in nitric acid, in the cold.

From Project Gutenberg

Safrol, an ether which is the chief constituent of sassafras oil, and also found in considerable quantity in camphor oil.

From Project Gutenberg