any of three isomeric, colorless, strong-smelling, liquid bases, CH(CH)N, found in the oil produced by the dry distillation of bones and coal: used in insecticides, pharmaceuticals, resins, etc.
Origin:
< L pix (gen. picis), pitch + -ol + -ine
See picoline in American Heritage Dictionary 4
noun
Any of three isomeric liquids, C5H4N(CH3), derived from coal tar, horse urine, and bone oil and used as an industrial solvent.