paraffin Definition

paraffin
noun

1. A fuel oil obtained from petroleum or coal and used in aircraft, domestic heaters, etc.
2. Any of a series of saturated aliphatic hydrocarbons derived from petroleum, including alkane gases such as methane and ethane, and liquids and waxy solids. Now more commonly called an alkane.
3. paraffin wax.
4. petrolatum.

Etymology: 19c: from Latin parum little + affinis having an affinity, named by its discoverer, Reichenbach, because of its unreactiveness.