Plantoleum is a noun derived from combining the Latin
words "planta" (plant) and "oleum" (oil). Thus, this is a word for "plant oil" which is in contrast to and to distinguish from the word petroleum which is derived from combining the Latin words "petra" (
rock) and "oleum" (oil) so that petroleum is a word for "
rock oil". This is important since many different plant oils are now beginning to be used as fuels.