Quinoline \Quin"o*line\, n. [Quinine + L. oleum oil + -ine.]
(Chem.)
A nitrogenous base, {C9H7N} obtained as a pungent colorless
liquid by the distillation of alkaloids, bones, coal tar,
etc. It the nucleus of many organic bodies, especially of
certain alkaloids and related substances; hence, by
extension, any one of the series of alkaloidal bases of which
quinoline proper is the type. [Written also {chinoline}.]
[1913 Webster]