fusel oil

[fyoo-zuhl, -suhl]

noun

1. a mixture consisting chiefly of amyl alcohols obtained as a by-product in the fermentation of grains.

fusel oil

/ ˈfjuːzəl /

noun

1. a mixture of amyl alcohols, propanol, and butanol: a by-product in the distillation of fermented liquors used as a source of amyl alcohols

fusel oil

1. An acrid, oily, poisonous liquid occurring in the distillation products of fermented alcoholic liquids. Fusel oil is a mixture of amyl alcohols, fatty acids, and esters. It is used in paints, plastics, and varnishes, and in the manufacture of explosives.

Word History and Origins

Origin of fusel oil¹

First recorded in 1850–55; from German Fusel “bad liquor” + oil ( def. )

Word History and Origins

Origin of fusel oil¹

C19: from German Fusel bad spirits