How did the word diesel come into English language?

The word "diesel" comes directly from the name of its inventor, Rudolf Diesel.

Here's a breakdown:

* Rudolf Diesel (1858-1913) was a German engineer who invented the diesel engine in 1892.

* The engine was named after him, and the term "diesel engine" quickly became widely used.

* Over time, the term "diesel" was shortened and adopted as a common noun to refer to the fuel itself.

So, essentially, the word "diesel" is an example of an eponym, a word derived from a person's name.