- gusher (n.)
- "oil well that flows without pumping," 1886, agent noun from gush (v.). Earlier in a sense of "overly effusive person" (1864).
- payout (n.)
- 1904, from pay (v.) + out. Originally in reference to oil wells that produced enough to justify the expense of drilling them.
- torpedo (v.)
- "destroy or sink (a ship) by a torpedo," 1874, from torpedo (n.). Also used late 19c. of blowing open oil wells. Figurative sense attested from 1895. Related: Torpedoed; torpedoing.