gas

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A substance like air that is neither solid nor liquid and spreads to fill any space.

   Hydrogen is a gas that is lighter than air.

2. 2
   noun

   Fuel for a car; gasoline (American).

   We need to stop and get some gas before the highway.

3. 3
   noun

   Gas used for cooking or heating in the home.

   She lit the gas and put the kettle on to boil.

4. 4
   noun

   Air trapped in the stomach or intestines during digestion.

   Eating too quickly often gives me gas.

5. 5
   verb

   To attack or harm someone with poisonous gas.

   The soldiers were gassed during the war.

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Simplified etymology

Gas was coined in the 17th century by the Flemish chemist and physician Jan Baptista van Helmont. He based it on Greek khaos, “chaos,” replacing the Greek chi sound with a similar-sounding Dutch g; the word became widely established only in the 19th century.

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰeh₂-der. Ancient Greek χαῦνος (khaûnos) Ancient Greek χάος (kháos)der. Dutch gasbor. English gas Borrowed from Dutch gas, coined by chemist Jan Baptist van Helmont in Ortus Medicinae. Derived from Ancient Greek χάος (kháos, “chasm, void, empty space”); perhaps also inspired by geest (“breath, vapour, spirit”). Doublet of chaos. First attested in 1648.

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External links

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