# diesel

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈdiːzəl/ · frequency rank #6,559

## Definitions
1. 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.
2. A vehicle powered by a diesel engine.
3. Ellipsis of diesel engine.
4. A rider who has an even energy output, without bursts of speed.
5. Synonym of snakebite and black.
6. A particular cannabis hybrid.

## 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.

## Easily confused with
- **dispel** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/diesel-vs-dispel)
- **dieter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/diesel-vs-dieter)
- **dies** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dies-vs-diesel)
- **damsel** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/damsel-vs-diesel)

## Common misspellings (8)
`ddiesel`, `deisel`, `dieesl`, `diesell`, `diesle`, `diessel`, `diseel`, `idesel`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/diesel