An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

The term first used by George Gamow (1904-1968) in a paper (Physical Review, 1948, coauthored by Alpher and Bethe) to describe the
→ primordial → substance from which the → chemical elements were formed. It fell into disuse.

See also: M.E. ylem, from O.Fr. ilem “universal matter,” from M.L. hyle “matter,” from Gk. hule “matter, material, woods,” used by Aristotle as perote hule “fundamental matter, raw material.”