What does creosoting mean?
Creosoting refers to the process of applying creosote — an oily liquid distilled from coal tar or wood tar — to timber in order to preserve it. Creosote penetrates deep into wood fibres, protecting them against fungal rot, water damage, wood-boring insects such as termites, and general weathering. Historically essential for railway sleepers, telegraph poles, fencing, and marine pilings, creosoting was once carried out on an industrial scale using pressure treatment. In domestic settings, particularly in Britain, it has long been a familiar part of garden maintenance, applied by brush to sheds, fences, and posts. Because of health and environmental concerns about its toxicity, its domestic use has been restricted in many countries, though industrial applications continue under regulation. The word carries strong associations with the distinctive smoky smell of freshly treated wood.
verb (present participle/gerund of creosote)The act of treating wood, especially timber, fences, or railway sleepers, with creosote to protect it from rot, insects, and weathering.
- Treating timber or other material with creosote as a wood preservative.
"The fence posts had been freshly creosoting-proofed against damp and decay."
"He spent the weekend creosoting the garden fence before the autumn rains set in."
"Railway workers were once regularly employed in creosoting sleepers by hand."
That distinctive smell of a freshly treated railway sleeper? That's creosote — a substance so effective at preserving wood that it's been doing the job since the age of steam.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of creosoting
The verb derives from 'creosote', coined in the early nineteenth century from Greek roots: kreas meaning 'flesh' and soter or sozein meaning 'preserver' or 'to save', reflecting the substance's ability to preserve organic matter such as meat and wood. The term was introduced following the isolation of the compound from wood tar by German chemist Karl Ludwig Reichenbach.
Related word forms
How creosoting is actually used
Mostly British usage, common in DIY and gardening contexts. The base verb 'to creosote' is more commonly encountered than the explicit participle form.
Easily confused with creosoting
Kerosene is a flammable fuel oil used in lamps and heaters, while creosote is a preservative derived from coal tar or wood tar used to protect timber.