1835, benzine, from Ger. Benzin, coined in 1833 by Ger. chemist Eilhardt Mitscherlich (1794-1863) from Benz(oesäure) "benzoic acid." Mitscherlich obtained it from a distillation of benzoic acid, obtained from benzoin (q.v.). The form benzene dates from 1872 in English.
