What is "line?"

[Wurlitzer]

as in Valvo"line," Havo"line," No-Burpo"line," etc.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

never mind

 

[RooflessVW]

Explained on Reddit

 

[Jim K]

When you tell fibs. I`m not line to you.

 

[SirTanon]

Gasoline ..

... Gonna guess there's some kind of similar root there.

 

[PimTac]

Do a search of word etymology sites. Just from my quick perusal my guess is that it defines it as a liquid form.

Gasoline. Gas is not liquid.
Havoline and Valvoline. Both are old brand names.
Cosmoline.

Interesting question.

 

[AZjeff]

Thread of the day.

Hoping for a definitive answer not a WAG.

 

[MolaKule]

How about this:

-ine (unsaturated hydrocarbon)

See: Wikipedia ine

 

[burla]

Originally Posted by AZjeff

Thread of the day.

Hoping for a definitive answer not a WAG.


Also, why do the pronouce in lean instead of line, just say'n. Never seen a commercial where the pronounced it valvo line. I feel an epic thread coming on.

 

[y_p_w]

The obvious place to look is where Vaseline got its name, since that may be the first commercial use of that suffix. The Wiki for Vaseline says that it was a combination of the German "wasser" meaning water, and the Greek Îλαιον (pronounced "elaion") meaning olive oil.

Vaseline was introduced as a brand in 1872 while Valvoline was trademarked in 1873. I figure that's about as good an answer as any.