GC: n
S: PetroNaft – https://www.petronaftco.com/bitumen-same-tar/ (last access: 2 May 2025); HistUnd – https://historyundusted.wordpress.com/2014/08/18/pitch-vs-tar/ (last access: 2 May 2025).
N: 1. type of thick, viscous, dark-colored liquid used as a salve (for sheep), caulking agent (for ships), and incendiary material, Middle English tēr, from Old English teoru, teru “tar, bitumen, resin, gum,” literally “the pitch of (certain kinds of) trees,” from Proto-Germanic *terw- (source also of Old Norse tjara, Old Frisian tera, Middle Dutch tar, Dutch teer, German Teer).
According to Watkins this is probably a derivation of *trewo-, from PIE *derw-, a variant of the root *deru- “be firm, solid, steadfast,” with specialized senses “wood, tree” and derivatives referring to objects made of wood.
2. A very thick, black, sticky liquid made from coal that becomes hard when it cools and that is used especially for road surfaces — see also “coal tar”.
A sticky substance that is formed by burning tobacco. Example: low-tar cigarettes.
3. tar. The heavy, oily, dark-colored liquid called tar comes from wood, coal, bones, and other organic substances. It is made by the process called destructive distillation—subjecting the materials to intense heat in the absence of air. Coal tar is the source of some fabrics, many dyestuffs, and other useful products (see Coal-Tar Products).
There are two types of wood tar—hardwood tars, derived from such trees as oak and beech; and resinous wood tars, derived from pine wood. Resinous wood tars differ from hardwood tars because they contain the pleasant smelling mixture of terpenes commonly known as turpentine. Much resinous wood tar is produced in Northern Europe, in the forests of Sweden, Finland, and Russia. This is known as Archangel or Stockholm tar, according to the source. In the United States wood-tar production is centered in the South. Because of its large creosote content, wood tar is used to preserve wood. It is also used in ointments and antiseptics.
Pitch is the black resinous substance that is obtained as a residue in the distilling of coal and wood tar, petroleum, and stearin products. Wood-tar pitch is used to make plastics, insulating materials, and caulking compounds.
4. Petroleum Distillation; Wood Products; Coal-Derived Fuels: tar.
- A viscous, adhesive material produced by the pyrolysis of coal, lignite, wood, etc. [Definition standardized by ISO.]
- The tars that are formed from inorganic materials from incomplete combustion may be potentially carcinogenic.
- … the tars and other known carcinogens in tobacco smoke.
- tar: term standardized by ISO.
- Unless otherwise stated, it is assumed that the origin is coal or similar material. It is never from petroleum origin.
5. Cultural Interrelation: We can mention the book Gargling With Tar (2010) written by Jachim Topol.
S: 1. Etymonline – https://www.etymonline.com/search?q=tar (last access: 2 May 2025): 2. BritDict – https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/tar (last access: 2 May 2025). 3. KidsBrit – https://kids.britannica.com/students/article/tar/275392 (last access: 2 May 2025). 4. TERMIUM PLUS – https://www.btb.termiumplus.gc.ca/tpv2alpha/alpha-eng.html?lang=eng&i=1&srchtxt=goudron&index=alt&codom2nd_wet=1#resultrecs, (last access: 2 May 2025). 5. GR – https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21118517-gargling-with-tar (last access: 2 May 2025).
SYN:
S:
CR: asphalt, bitumen, bituminous coal, coal, coke, coking-plant, natural gas, petroleum, pitch.
