neon (n.)

chemical element, one of the noble gases, 1898, coined by its discoverers, Sir William Ramsay and Morris W. Travers, from Greek neon, neuter of neos "new" (see new); so called because it was newly discovered. They also discovered its property of emitting colored light when electrified in a sealed glass tube. The use of neon lights in advertising dates to 1913; neon sign is attested by 1927.