paraffin oil (parafinoil)

An oily product which is given off in large quantity in the destructive distillation of bituminous shale. The lighter oils are used for illuminating, and the heavier for lubricating purposes.- American paraffin-scales (par'a-fin-skālz), n. pl. See the quotation. paraffin-oil. Same as kerosene. During the last twenty years, paraffin has come largely into use for candle-making. The crude solid product separated from the light and heavy oils by the mineral oil refiners, and known as paraffin scales , is of somewhat variable composition. Spons ' Encyc. Manuf., I. 586.