Etymologically
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gasoline

Etymology and origin of the English word gasoline

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1863

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ˈɡæs.ə.liːn/; /ˌɡæsəˈlin/ (UK); /ɡæsˈlin/ (US)[1]

Etymology

It is formed from gas, -ol (from Latin oleum (“oil”)) and -ine or -ene.[2][3][4][5] The variant gasolene, apparently first a trade name, is from 1863 in Britain,[3] gas being used loosely for compounds of gases used for lighting and heating.[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

1864 in Etymonline, 1865 (gasolene) in Barnhart and Merriam-Webster;[3][2][5] the spelling gasoline is American from 1871.[2]

Semantic evolution

The shortened form gas was in common American use by 1897,[3] first recorded in 1905 in Barnhart.[2] Gas station is recorded by 1924 in Etymonline and 1932 in Barnhart, earlier gas-filling station (1925).[3][2] In Britain the usual word is petrol.[6]

Timeline

  • 1863 – gasolene (Britain).[3]
  • 1864 – gasoline.[3]
  • 1871 – the spelling gasoline (US).[2]
  • 1897 – gas, petrol (US).[3]
  • 1924 – gas station.[3]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. (US, Canada) A flammable liquid mixture of hydrocarbons from petroleum, used as fuel for engines; petrol.

Word family

  • gasolinic
  • gasolineless
  • gasohol
  • white gasoline
  • gas
  • petrol
  • kerosene

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ Hoad, T. F., ed. (1986), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  6. ^ Collins English Dictionary (2023), Glasgow: HarperCollins
Cite this entry

“Gasoline.” Etymologically, 17 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/en/gasoline. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

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