Gel
late 19th century: abbreviation of gelatin. See also jell.
wiktionary
Coined by Thomas Graham in the mid 19th century as a clipping of gelatin, from French gélatine, from Italian gelatina, diminutive form of gelata(“iced”), from Latin gelata, past participle of gelo(“to freeze”), from gelu(“frost”), from Proto-Indo-European *gel-(“cold”)
Imitative of upper-class British pronunciation of girl.
etymonline
gel (n.)
"semi-solid substance," 1899, as a chemical term, short for gelatin and perhaps influenced by jell. The invention of this word is credited to Scottish chemist Thomas Graham. Hair-styling sense is from 1958.
gel (v.)
1902, "to become a gel," from gel (n.). Figurative sense "come together and agree well" is from 1958. Related: Gelled; gelling.
