-yl

Chemistry
1.
a suffix used in the names of radicals:
ethyl.
Origin
< French -yle < Greek hȳ́lē matter, wood, substance
British Dictionary definitions for -yl

-yl

suffix
1.
(in chemistry) indicating a group or radical: methyl, carbonyl
Word Origin
from Greek hulē wood, matter
Word Origin and History for -yl

chemical suffix used in forming names of radicals, from French -yle, from Greek hyle "wood," also "building stuff, raw material" (from which something is made).

It was introduced into chemical nomenclature by Liebig and Wohler when, in 1832, they used the term benzoyle for the radical which appeared to be the "essential material" of benzoic acid and related compounds. [Flood]

-yl in Medicine

-yl suff.
A monovalent organic acid radical: carbonyl.

-yl in Science
-yl  
A suffix used to form the chemical names of organic compounds when they are radicals (parts of larger compounds), such as ethyl and phenyl.