What is "cetyl"

Cetyl \Ce"tyl\, n. [Gr. ? whale + -yl.] (Chem.) A radical, C16H33, not yet isolated, but supposed to exist in a series of compounds homologous with the ethyl compounds, and derived from spermaceti.

univalent alcohol radical found in spermaceti, beeswax, etc., 1842, from Latin cetus "whale" (see Cetacea) + -yl.

n. (context organic chemistry English) The univalent hexadecyl radical C₁₆H₃₃- present in many waxes