diesel English · revision 10357

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=eponym|attested=1894}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈdiːzəl/; /ˈdisəl/, /ˈdizəl/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is named after Rudolf Diesel (1858–1913), the German mechanical engineer who designed this kind of engine in the 1890s.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A type of internal-combustion engine using oil as fuel: 1894.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Combinations such as diesel-driven and diesel-hauled are from 1905,^(OED 1989) and diesel as short for diesel oil, fuel for diesel engines, from 1953.^(OED 1989) The verb, of a petrol engine, to keep running after the ignition is turned off, is from 1971 in American English, because the heat of the engine continues to fire the fuel as in a diesel.^(Barnhart 1988) In South African slang, diesel is any cola drink.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1894 – the diesel engine.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1905 – diesel-driven.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1953 – diesel oil.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1971 – to diesel (verb).^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A diesel engine, in which fuel is ignited by the heat of compressed air.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A vehicle, ship or locomotive driven by a diesel engine.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(informal)'' Diesel oil.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # Of a petrol engine, to continue running after the ignition is switched off.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[dieselize]]

+ * [[diesel-electric]]

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+ ==Related words==

+ * [[engine]]

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+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}