Chem. [f. Gr. θύμον THYME + -OL.]. The phenol of cymene, C10H13 . OH, obtained from oil of thyme, also from the volatile oil of horse-mint, crystallizing in transparent rhomboidal plates; a powerful antiseptic.
1857. Miller, Elem. Chem., III. 446. Thymole [ed. 1862 thymol], C20H14O2, is isomeric with cuminic alcohol; it … constitutes about one-half of the essence of thyme.
1876. Harley, Royle’s Mat. Med., 474. Oil of Thyme … consists of a fluid portion, separable into cymene…, and thymene…, and of a solid crystalline body called thymol…, which has a very pungent taste, and the aroma of the crude oil.
1911. Contemp. Rev., Feb., 231. The destruction of the parasite in its intermediary host [man] by quinine or thymol.
b. attrib. and Comb.
1883. Athenæum, 10 March, 316/2. When thymolsulphonic acid is treated with nitric acid, paranitrothymol is formed.
1884. Health Exhib. Catal., 62/1. ‘Thymol-Cresol’ Disinfecting Powder.
1899. Cagney, trans. Jaksch’s Clin. Diagn., vii. (ed. 4), 344. Thymol appears in the urine as thymol sulphuric, thymol glycuronic … acids.
1911. Dorland, Med. Dict. (ed. 6), s.v. Thymol, Thymol-camphor, a compound of thymol and camphor. Ibid., Thymol-gauze, gauze impregnated with a 1 per cent. solution of thymol. Ibid. Thymol-inhalation, -solution [etc.].
Hence Thymolate, a compound of thymol, in which the hydrogen of the OH group is replaced by a metal; Thymolic a., of or pertaining to thymol, chiefly in compounds, as sulpho-thymolic acid, C10H14SO4; Thymolize v., trans. to treat (a solution) with thymol (as a preservative); Thymoloform = thymoform.
1880. Athenæum, 27 Nov., 713/1. The authors … have thus prepared aluminic methylate,… cresylate, and thymolate.
1900. Helen Baldwin, in Jrnl. Exper. Med., 1 Oct., 30. The urine should be thymolized … to prevent fermentation.
1911. Dorland, Med. Dict. (ed. 6), Thymoloform, a yellowish powder, a product of formaldehyd and thymol.
