diesel

Where does the word "diesel" come from? It comes from German Diesel, and was adopted directly into English (1890s).

Diesel’s story begins in German: Diesel meant “a family name.” Rudolf Diesel patented his compression-ignition engine in 1893, and the first working engine ran at the MAN works in Augsburg in 1897. It reached English by 1890s as diesel. Diesel vanished from a Channel steamer in 1913; by then his name covered the engine and later its fuel. Today, diesel means a heavy fuel oil; an engine that ignites fuel by compression.

1. Stage 1 · German · 1893 Diesel "a family name", Rudolf Diesel patented his compression-ignition engine in 1893, and the first working engine ran at the MAN works in Augsburg in 1897.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1890s diesel "engine; its fuel", Diesel vanished from a Channel steamer in 1913; by then his name covered the engine and later its fuel.