Английский Этимологический словарь - plastic (adj.)

- 1632, "capable of shaping or moulding," from L. plasticus, from Gk. plastikos "able to be molded, pertaining to molding," from plastos "molded," from plassein "to mold." The noun "solid substance that can be molded" is from 1905 (though Plasticine, a trade name for a modelling clay substitute, is from 1890s). Main modern meaning, "synthetic product made from oil derivatives," first recorded 1909, coined by Leo Baekeland (see bakelite). Picked up in 1960s counterculture slang as an adj. meaning "false, superficial."