Wood-tar oil; an oily antiseptic liquid, of a burning smoky taste, colorless when pure, but usually colored yellow or brown by impurity or exposure. It is a complex mixture of various phenols and their ethers, and is obtained by the distillation of wood tar, especially that of beechwood. [1913 Webster]

" It is remarkable as an antiseptic and deodorizer in the preservation of wood, flesh, etc., and in the prevention of putrefaction; but it is a poor germicide, and in this respect has been overrated. Smoked meat, as ham, owes its preservation and taste to a small quantity of creosote absorbed from the smoke to which it is exposed. Carbolic acid is phenol{1} proper, while creosote is a mixture of several phenols." [1913 Webster]

Coal-tar creosote (Chem.), a colorless or yellow, oily liquid, obtained in the distillation of coal tar, and resembling wood-tar oil, or creosote proper, in composition and properties.

Creosote, v. t.

To saturate or impregnate with creosote, as timber, for the prevention of decay.

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OXFORD DICTIONARY

Creosote, n. & v.
--n.
1 (in full creosote oil) a dark-brown oil distilled from coal tar, used as a wood-preservative.
2 a colourless oily fluid distilled from wood tar, used as an antiseptic.
--v.tr. treat with creosote.

Etymology

G Kreosote f. Gk kreas flesh + soter preserver, with ref. to its antiseptic properties

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