I believe that you are right, but something akin to dihydrogen-monoxide
or
possibly dihydrogen-oxide was the name used

Yes, but dihydrogen monoxide is an extremely dangerous substance which
needs to be treated with enormous respect.

Hydrogen hydroxide is just water.

I believe there may have been multiple versions of the story, but here are a
few links relted to the dihydrogen monoxide and dihydrogen oxide versions:

http://www.junkscience.com/news/glassman.html
http://www.snopes.com/science/dhmo.asp
http://www.magicsoil.com/DiHy/DiHydrogen%20Oxide.htm
http://www.magicsoil.com/DiHy/DiHydrogen%20Oxide.htm
http://www.urbandictionary.com/defin...hydrogen+oxide

There are many more, too many for my patience.

Peter