来自拉丁语parum,一点点，不多，来自PIE*pau,少的，词源同few,poor.-affin,相似，词源同affinity,finite.来自该物质发明者19世纪德国化学家Karl von Reichenbach根据拉丁语创造出来的一个词，因石蜡与蜂蜡有一点相似而得名，后也用于指煤油。
英文词源
paraffin
paraffin: [19] The term paraffin was coined in German around 1830 by the chemist Reichenbach. It was formed from Latin parum ‘little’ and affinis ‘related’ (source of English affinity), an allusion to the fact that paraffin is not closely related chemically to any other substance. The word is first recorded in English in 1838. => affinity, fine
paraffin (n.)
1838, from German Paraffin, coined c. 1830 by German chemist Karl von Reichenbach (1788-1869), who first obtained it as a waxy substance from wood tar, irregularly from Latin parum "not very, too little," probably related to parvus "little, small" (see parvi-) + affinis "associated with" (see affinity).
So called because paraffin is chemically not closely related to other substances. The liquid form (originally parafin oil) Reichenbach called eupion, but this was the standard meaning of paraffin in English by 1860.
实用例句
1. The fire blazed up when I added paraffin.
我加了一些煤油,火就燃烧起来了.
来自《简明英汉词典》
2. He took the paraffin stove on a picnic and the ruddy thing wouldn't work.
他带了那个煤油炉去野餐，但是那个该死的东西根本用不了。
来自柯林斯例句
3. Paraffin waxes are normally marketed on the basis of a melting - point test.
石腊一般按其熔点不同在市场上分类出售.
来自辞典例句
4. Paraffin has the property of dissolving grease.
石蜡具有溶解油脂的特性.
来自辞典例句
5. Paraffin , however, is not a good phlegmatizing agent.
