Meaning

noun any of a class of weakly acidic organic compounds; molecule contains one or more hydroxyl groups

noun a toxic white soluble crystalline acidic derivative of benzene; used in manufacturing and as a disinfectant and antiseptic; poisonous if taken internally

originEtymology tree Proto-Indo-European *bʰeh₂-der. Proto-Hellenic *pʰáňňō Ancient Greek φαίνω (phaínō)der. French phènebor. English phenol From French phène, from Ancient Greek φαίνω (phaínō, “to clear”), as it was used for illumination, name given by Auguste Laurente in 1836. By surface analysis, pheno- + -ol.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0