[a. Ger. fusel bad brandy or other spirits; formerly applied in LG. dialects also to bad tobacco. Cf. Ger. fuseln to bungle (see FOOZLE).] attrib. in Fusel oil, a term for a mixture of several homologous alcohols, chiefly amylic alcohol, and especially applied to this when in its crude form (Syn. Soc. Lex., 1885).
1850. Daubeny, Atom. Th., vii. (ed. 2), 227. Being abundantly obtained during the distillation of potatoes the name of oil of potato spirit, or fusel oil, has been assigned to it.
1859. All Year Round, No. 32. 128. Fusel oil makes oil of pear, used in perfumery and the so-called jargonelle pear drops.
1868. L. Playfair, in Quarterly Review, CXXIV. 350. A peculiarly fœtid oil, termed fusel oil, is formed in making brandy and whisky.