[ad. G. xylit, f. Gr. ξύλον wood: see -ITE1.]
1. Chem. A volatile liquid obtained from wood-spirit, also called LIGNONE. Also attrib.
1843. Penny Cycl., XXVII. 634/2. With acids xylite … gives rise to xylitic acid, xylite naphtha, xylite resin, and xylite oil.
1855. Watts, trans. Gmelin’s Hand-bk. Chem., IX. 48. Xylite-oil. C12H9O. Produced by the action of oil of vitriol, hydrate of potash, or potassium on lignone, mesite, or xylitic naphtha, and by that of oil of vitriol or hydrate of potash on mesitene.
2. Min. An impure silicate of iron, occurring in brown fibrous masses resembling asbestos or ‘mountain wood.’
1850. Ansted, Elem. Geol., Min., etc. § 460. Hisingerite is another silicate of iron, and with it are associated … Stilpnomelane, Chloropal,… Xylite.
1868. Watts, Dict. Chem., V. 1059. Xylite. This name is given by Hermann … to a mineral … forming finely fibrous masses resembling mountain-wood.
Hence Xylitic a. Chem., applied to compounds derived from xylite (sense 1): see quots.
1843. [see sense 1 above].
1852. W. Gregory, Handbk. Org. Chem., 393. An excess of potash causes the formation of three products: xylitic naphtha, C12H12O3; xylitic oil, C12H2O; and xylitic resin, C3H6O.
