Quinoline \Quin"o*line\, n. [Quinine + L. oleum oil + -ine.]

(Chem.) A nitrogenous base, C9H7N obtained as a pungent colorless liquid by the distillation of alkaloids, bones, coal tar, etc. It the nucleus of many organic bodies, especially of certain alkaloids and related substances; hence, by extension, any one of the series of alkaloidal bases of which quinoline proper is the type. [Written also chinoline.]

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)