quword 趣词
Word Origins Dictionary
- diesel




- diesel: [19] The name of this type of internalcombustion engine (which runs on oil rather than petrol) commemorates its inventor, the Parisborn Bavarian engineer Rudolf Diesel (1858– 1913). He conceived his idea for the engine in the early 1890s. In its development stage he was almost killed when one exploded, but by 1897 he had succeeded in producing an operable engine. Within a year he was a millionaire. The term diesel is first recorded in English in 1894.
- biodiesel (n.)




- also bio-diesel, 1992, from bio- + diesel.
- Dies Irae




- literally "day of wrath," first words of Latin hymn of Last Judgment, attributed to Thomas of Celano (c. 1250). See diurnal + ire.
- diesel (adj.)




- 1894, named for Rudolf Diesel (1858-1913), German mechanical engineer who designed this type of engine.
- Indies




- 1550s, plural of Indie, Indy, from Middle English Ynde (early 13c.) "India," from the Old French form of Latin India (see India). Commonly applied to Asia and the East, later applied to the Caribbean basin, in a time of geographical confusion, which was distinguished from Asia proper by being called the West Indies.
- ladies (n.)




- plural of lady (q.v.).
- undies (n.)




- 1906, diminutive euphemistic abbreviation for women's underwear (or undergarments).
- West Indies




- Caribbean islands explored by Columbus, 1550s, reflecting the belief (or hope) that they were western outliers of the Indies of Asia. Related: West Indian, which is from 1580s in reference to the native inhabitants, 1650s in reference to European settlers there, and 1928 in reference to people of West Indian ancestry.