Meaning
A highly flammable, viscous substance, designed to stick to the body while burning, used in warfare as an incendiary especially in wooded areas.
Etymology
Origin: Middle English
Etymology tree Akkadian napṭumbor.? Old Persian *naftahbor. Ancient Greek νάφθα (náphtha)bor. Latin naphthabor. English naphtha French -ènebor. English -ene English naphthene Proto-Indo-European *-ikos Proto-Italic *-ikos Latin -icuslbor. Old French -iquebor. Middle English -ik English -ic English na(phthenic) ▲ Spanish palmitocalq. Proto-Indo-European *pleth₂-? Proto-Indo-European *pel-? Proto-Indo-European *pleh₂- Proto-Indo-European *pl̥h₂meh₂ Proto-Italic *palamā Latin palmader. Old French paumeder. ▲ Latin palmader. Middle French palme French palme Proto-Indo-European *-tósder. Ancient Greek -της (-tēs)der. Ancient Greek -ῑ́της (-ī́tēs)der. Latin -ītēslbor. French -ite French palmite ▲ English -ic English palm(itic) English napalm Formed from na(phthenic) palm(itic) acid, the two original components of the substance.
NYT Puzzle Appearances
Accepted in 2 recorded puzzles: