The Collaborative International Dictionary
Benzine \Ben"zine\, n. [From Benzoin.] (Chem.)
A liquid consisting mainly of the lighter and more volatile hydrocarbons of petroleum or kerosene oil, used as a solvent and for cleansing soiled fabrics; -- called also petroleum spirit, petroleum benzine. Varieties or similar products are gasoline, naphtha, rhigolene, ligroin, etc.
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Same as Benzene. [R.]
Note: The hydrocarbons of benzine proper are essentially of the marsh gas (paraffin) series, while benzene proper is the typical hydrocarbon of the aromatic series.
Wiktionary
n. petroleum ether
Usage examples of "petroleum spirit".
A small amount of Jasmine oil is prepared by extracting the blossoms with petroleum spirit and evaporating the solvent at a low temperature, but this treatment by killing the flower at once, stops the process of scent formation, so that the yield of oil is only onefifth (some say one-ninth) of that extracted by fats in the enfleurage process.
The petroleum spirit extract contains the two crystalline bitter principles (a) Lupamaric acid (Humulone), (b) Lupamaric acid (Lupulinic acid).
Two are dark-coloured, one being soluble in ether, and one soft and greenish, soluble in petroleum spirit.