photogen

[ foh-tuh-juh n, -jen ]

/ ˈfoʊ tə dʒən, -ˌdʒɛn /

a light oil obtained by the distillation of bituminous shale, coal, or peat: once commercially produced chiefly as an illuminant and as a solvent.

Biology. a photogenic organ, organism, or substance.

Origin of photogen

First recorded in 1855–60; photo- + -gen

Photogen turned, looked back toward the castle, and saw a dark speck on the plain.

Harper's Young People, January 6, 1880 |Various
Your paper is getting better every week, and the story about "Photogen and Nycteris" is about the best you have published.

Harper's Young People, January 6, 1880 |Various
"But you don't know what mad animals there are away there toward the south," said Photogen.

Harper's Young People, December 30, 1879 |Various
He had scarcely said it when he repented; nor did he regret it the less when he found that Photogen made no reply.

Harper's Young People, December 16, 1879 |Various

So that, as Photogen grew older, Fargu began to tremble, for he found it steadily growing harder to restrain him.

Harper's Young People, December 2, 1879 |Various