[MR] kuhl / kohl

[SNSpies at aol.com]

>From Medieval Islamic Medicine by Peter E. Pormann and Emilie  Savage-Smith 
(Georgetown University Press, 2007), p. 67:
 
"Outside the context of specialised ophathalmic care, the word kuhl  
denoted various compound substances to enhance the beauty of the eye.  The major 
component of these cosmetics  has traditionally (but incorrectly) been 
identified as a type of antimony,  usually antimony sulfate or antimony sulphide 
(stibium or stibnite).  Recent research indicates that it was  not a form of 
antimony, but probably lead, though some have suggested a kind of  powdered 
iron.  The word kuhl, from  which the word for oculist, kahhal, is derived, 
ultimately came to mean not just  a fine eye powder but any fine essence, 
and, taken with the Arabic article,  al-kuhl eventually gave rise to the word 
alcohol"
 
Nancy/Ingvild