napalm
UK[ˈneɪpɑːm]US[ˈneɪpɑːm]
n
a highly flammable sticky jelly used in incendiary bombs and flame-throwers, made from petrol and a thickening agent.
v
attack with bombs containing napalm.
Etymology
the word 'napalm' is a 20th-century invention, coined during world war ii. it is a portmanteau, blending the first syllables of its original chemical ingredients: 'na' from naphthenic acid and 'palm' from palmitic acid, which were used to thicken gasoline into a gel. this synthetic creation bypasses ancient etymological roots, deriving its name directly from laboratory terminology. the term's evolution is purely technical, with its meaning fixed at its point of origin to describe a specific, devastating incendiary weapon.
Analysis
this is a modern portmanteau word formed from the initial syllables of two chemical compounds. it is not divisible into classical morphemes based on its english spelling.
Examples
the use of napalm was highly controversial during the vietnam war.
the documentary showed forests devastated by napalm bombs.
international treaties have sought to restrict the use of napalm against civilian populations.