Etymology Map
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Diesel

2 stages from German to English.

Today it means a heavy fuel oil; an engine that ignites fuel by compression

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

1
Stage 1 of 2
Diesel
German · 1893
"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 of 2
diesel
English · 1890s
"engine; its fuel"
Diesel vanished from a Channel steamer in 1913; by then his name covered the engine and later its fuel
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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.