fusel oil

3 definitions found

fusel oil - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Fusel \Fu"sel\, n., Fusel oil \Fu"sel oil\ [G. fusel bad
     liquor.] (Chem.)
     A hot, acrid, oily liquid, accompanying many alcoholic
     liquors (as potato whisky, corn whisky, etc.), as an
     undesirable ingredient, and consisting of several of the
     higher alcohols and compound ethers, but mostly of amyl
     alcohol; hence, amyl alcohol or a mixture of amyl alcohols.
     [1913 Webster +PJC]

  Alcohol \Al"co*hol\ ([a^]l"k[-o]*h[o^]l), n. [Cf. F. alcool,
     formerly written alcohol, Sp. alcohol alcohol, antimony,
     galena, OSp. alcofol; all fr. Ar. al-kohl a powder of
     antimony or galena, to paint the eyebrows with. The name was
     afterwards applied, on account of the fineness of this
     powder, to highly rectified spirits, a signification unknown
     in Arabia. The Sp. word has both meanings. Cf. Alquifou.]
     1. An impalpable powder. [Obs.]
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. The fluid essence or pure spirit obtained by distillation.
        [Obs.] --Boyle.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. Pure spirit of wine; pure or highly rectified spirit
        (called also ethyl alcohol or ethanol, CH3.CH2.OH);
        the spirituous or intoxicating element of fermented or
        distilled liquors, or more loosely a liquid containing it
        in considerable quantity. It is extracted by simple
        distillation from various vegetable juices and infusions
        of a saccharine nature, which have undergone vinous
        fermentation.
  
     Note: [The ferementation is usually carried out by addition
           of brewer's yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae to an
           aqueous solution containing carbohydrates.]
           [1913 Webster +PJC]
  
     Note: As used in the U. S. "Pharmacop[oe]ia," alcohol
           contains 91 per cent by weight of ethyl alcohol and 9
           per cent of water; and diluted alcohol (proof spirit)
           contains 45.5 per cent by weight of ethyl alcohol and
           54.5 per cent of water.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     4. (Organic Chem.) A class of compounds analogous to vinic
        alcohol in constitution. Chemically speaking, they are
        hydroxides of certain organic radicals; as, the radical
        ethyl forms common or ethyl alcohol (C2H5.OH); methyl
        forms methyl alcohol (CH3.OH) or wood alcohol; amyl
        forms amyl alcohol (C5H11.OH) or fusel oil, etc.
        [1913 Webster]

fusel oil - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  fusel oil
      n 1: a mixture of amyl alcohols and propanol and butanol formed
           from distillation of fermented liquors