An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

A colorless, flammable liquid, insoluble in water and soluble in alcohol and ether, used as a solvent and in the manufacture of other organic chemicals and explosives. Chemical formula C₆H₅CH₃. Same as methylbenzene and phenylmethane. See also → trinitrotoluene.

See also: From tolu, from the older name toluol, which refers to tolu balsam, an aromatic extract from the tropical Colombian tree Myroxylon balsamum, from which it was first isolated, + -ene suffix used to form names of unsaturated hydrocarbons, from Gk. -ene denoting origin or source.