cresol

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

cresol
    n 1: any of three poisonous colorless isomeric phenols; derived
         from coal or wood tar; used as a disinfectant [syn:
         {cresol}, {methyl phenol}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Cresol \Cre"sol\ (kr[=e]"s[=o]l), n. [From {Creosote}.] (Chem.)
   Any one of three metameric substances, {CH3.C6H4.OH},
   homologous with and resembling phenol. They are obtained from
   coal tar and wood tar, and are colorless, oily liquids or
   solids.

   Note: [Called also {cresylic acid}.]
         [1913 Webster]