Chem. Also cressol. [f. cres- modification of initial part of creos-ote + -OL.] An aromatic alcohol of the Benzene group (C7 H8 O), occurring along with carbolic acid in coal-tar and creosote.
There are three isomeric substances having this composition, distinguished as ortho-, meta-, and para-cresol.
1869. Roscoe, Elem. Chem., 413. Cressol, a crystallizable solid, homologous with phenol.
1872. Watts, Dict. Chem., VI. 508. The red powder known in commerce as Victoria-yellow or Aniline-orange is a nearly pure salt of dinitro-cresol.
Hence Cresolene, C6H5CH3O, a product of coal-tar, related to carbolic acid, used to impregnate the air in sick-rooms, etc., with disinfecting fumes. Cresotic a. in (ortho-, para-, meta-) cresotic acid (C8 H8 O3), obtained from the corresponding cresols.
1863–72. Watts, Dict. Chem., II. 106. Cresotic acid produces a deep violet colour with sesquichlorate of iron.
