From: Brian D Williams (talon57@well.com)
Date: Thu Feb 14 2002 - 12:35:53 MST
>From: "Harvey Newstrom" <mail@HarveyNewstrom.com>
>But the word does not derive from any potable beverage. The word
>"alcohol" derives from the Arabic "Al-Kuhl" or "Al-Kahala".
>Kahala was a satiny powder used to paint the eyebrows. Alcohol
>was found to be a good solvent to dissolve the powder to produce
>smoother application. The word therefore refers to a solvent used
>as an ingredient in make-up. This was its basic meaning and how
>it was regarded by the Muslims. Anybody drinking alcohol to
>get high would be regarded like a solvent-sniffer in the West.
Yes, antimony specifically.
Beer of course was known and alcohol was commonly distilled from
it.
The word "alcohol" is actually a medieval latin derivative from the
arabic "al-kuhl" learned from muslim scholars in medieval Europe.
Brian
Member:
Extropy Institute, www.extropy.org
National Rifle Association, www.nra.org, 1.800.672.3888
SBC/Ameritech Data Center Chicago, IL, Local 134 I.B.E.W
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