wood spirit

American

noun

methyl alcohol.
(especially in folklore) a supernatural, incorporeal being believed to inhabit the forest.

wood spirit British

noun

chem another name for methanol

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of wood spirit

First recorded in 1835–45

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

She moved through the trees as quickly as a wood spirit.

From Literature

The former is obtained from wood, hence it is sometimes called wood spirit.

From Project Gutenberg

The spell of the wood spirits was on him; he forgot about the berries at fourpence a quart, and lay on his back and listened.

From Project Gutenberg

Whoever they were, it was proper at this time to offer food to strangers, and if they were gods or wood spirits this was the way to find it out.

From Project Gutenberg

Hofmann violets discovered; leading to manufacture of methyl iodide from iodine, phosphorus, and wood spirit.

From Project Gutenberg

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023