アルコール

1833 is an early Japanese point for アルコール: Seisenban Nihon Kokugo Daijiten cites Udagawa Yoan's Shokugaku Keigen. The listed source forms are Dutch alcohol and English alcohol. Further back, the European word comes from Arabic al-kuhl, originally a fine antimony powder used around the eyes. Japanese took アルコール into Rangaku and modern chemistry as a technical word. In the same dictionary entry, 酒精 appears as a Japanese equivalent, and Shusei is attested in 1862 in Shichishinyaku. A drink meaning is recorded in Seiyo Dochu Hizakurige from 1874-76, beside words such as ビイル and 葡萄酒. Today, アルコール can mean a chemical class, ethanol, disinfecting alcohol, or alcoholic drinks. English alcohol is similar, but everyday Japanese often uses it in set phrases such as アルコール消毒 and ノンアルコール. Dutch alcohol also has ethanol and drink meanings. Example: この飲み物はアルコール入りです.