pentaerythritol
/ˌpɛntə(r)ɛˈrɪθrɪtɒl/(also pentaerithritol) Chemistry
noun
A colourless, crystalline, synthetic compound, C(CH2OH)4, which is a tetrahydric alcohol and is used as a raw material in chemical manufacture, especially of paints and varnishes.
Origin
Late 19th century; earliest use found in Journal of the Chemical Society. From penta- + erythritol, after German Penta-Erythrit.