diesel

Definition

A fuel derived from petroleum (or other oils) but heavier than gasoline/petrol. Used to power diesel engines which burn this fuel using the heat produced when air is compressed.

Etymology

From German Diesel, named after inventor Rudolf Diesel, who developed a heavy-duty engine in Germany (1892–1897) and perfected it throughout his life.

Example Sentences

• "His next truck will be a diesel."
• "1959, Steam's Finest Hour, edited by David P. Morgan, Kalmbach Publishing Co., referring to Mexico's last new steam locomotives. Their effective service life was cut short by an almost simultaneous switch to diesels - a circumstance shared with many an engine north of the border."
• "Their next engine design will be a diesel."