meth

The term "meth" is a 20th-century abbreviation of "methamphetamine". The full word "methamphetamine" itself is a compound from chemical nomenclature: a contraction of "methyl" (from Greek 'methy', meaning "wine" or "spirit", and 'hylē', meaning "wood" or "material") and "amphetamine". However, in its clipped slang form "meth", this etymological connection is opaque. The word entered common vernacular to refer specifically to the illicit, crystalline form of the stimulant drug. Its journey reflects a pattern in language where technical terms are shortened in colloquial use, often acquiring strong cultural and social connotations distinct from their scientific origins.

The word "meth" is a modern English slang abbreviation. It is not formed from classical morphemes but is a clipped form of the full chemical name "methamphetamine". As such, it does not contain segmentable morphemes in the traditional etymological sense.