Any of eight isomeric liquid alcohols (
C5H11.OH), transparent, colorless liquids. It is the hydroxide of amyl. Also called
amylic alcohol. The
amyl alcohol obtained from
fusel oil is mostly isoamyl alcohol (3-methyl-1-butanol or 1-hydroxy-3-methylbutane), with some
sec-amyl alcohol (2-methyl-1-butanol or
2-pentanol), and has a characteristic peculiar odor. Other than
n-amyl alcohol (also called
1-pentanol) the other isomeric pentanols are not usually refered to as
amyl alcohol. The
amyl alcohol mixture in fusel oil forms a colorless liquid with a peculiar cough-exciting odor and burning taste. It is used as a source of amyl compounds, such as amyl acetate, amyl nitrite, etc. [
Webster 1913 Suppl.]