methyl-, methy- +
(Greek: a combining form occurring in the names of chemical compounds in which the methyl group is present; alcohol, wine)
A "univalent hydrocarbon radical," 1844, from German methyl (1840) or French méthyle, back-formation from French méthylène, coined in French (1835) from Greek methy, "wine" + hyle, "wood". The word was introduced by Swedish chemist Jöns Jakob Berzelius (1779-1848).