gasoline

Meanings

Noun

• A flammable liquid consisting of a mixture of refined petroleum hydrocarbons, mainly used as a motor fuel; petrol.
• Any specific kind of gasoline.

Adjective

• Made from or using gasoline.

Related

Similar words

• gas
• petrol

Narrower meaning words

• autogas, mogas
• avgas

Origin

• From Cazeline (possibly influenced by Gazeline, the name of an Irish copy), a brand of petroleum-derived lighting oil, from the surname of the man who first marketed it in 1862, John Cassell, and the suffix –eline. The name Cassell is from Anglo-Norman castel (cognate of English castle), from Old French castel, from Latin castellum, diminutive of castrum. The suffix -eline is from Ancient Greek ἔλαιον ("oil, olive oil"), from ἐλαία. Gasolene is found from 1863, and gasoline from 1864.