1
Stage 1 of 4
al-kuḥl
Arabic · medieval
"kohl, powdered antimony"
a fine powder of antimony used as eye makeup
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Stage 2 of 4
alcohol
Medieval Latin · c. 1500s
"a distilled essence or fine powder"
scholars in Spain generalized it to mean any fine distilled essence
3
Stage 3 of 4
alcool
French · c. 1600s
"distilled spirit"
narrowed to mean the spirit distilled from wine
4
Stage 4 of 4
alcohol
English · c. 1700s
"the intoxicating compound in spirits"
settled on its modern chemical sense
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