gasolene, gasoline
(ˈgæsəliːn)
Also gasoleine, gazoline.
[f. gas n.1 + -ol (as in benzol) + -ene, -ine.]
a. A volatile inflammable liquid, one of the first products in the distillation of crude petroleum, employed for purposes of heating and illumination. b. Now usu. = petrol n. 3 (chiefly U.S.).
| 1865 Appleton's Ann. Cycl. 1864 669/2 Many refiners [of petroleum] separate first of all the lightest naphtha..; to this the name of gasolene has been given. 1871 J. R. Nichols Fireside Sc. 50 Benzine, benzoline, gasoleine, kerosolene. 1883 Century Mag. July 338/1 No fewer than ten substances are obtained from petroleum by the refining process..2nd, gasolene, used in artificial gas machines. 1895 New Rev. Oct. 392 Of the petroleum vehicle..it may be said that it owes much of its extreme lightness to its modesty in the matter of fuel. A few pints of gasolene or rectified petroleum will suffice it for five or six hours. 1897 Westm. Gaz. 25 June 7/3 Her engines are 20-horse power, and are driven by gasoline. 1914 Duchess of Sutherland Six Weeks at War iii. 39 The Germans seemed to be doing the whole of this campaign on gasolene—that is to say, they use motor transport throughout. 1951 Manch. Guardian Weekly 15 Feb. 5 Gasolene, kerosene, and other petroleum products are smuggled out. |
| attrib. 1881 Harper's Mag. May 815/1 The street hawkers, with gasoline torches, are crying their wares. 1890 Pall Mall G. 30 June 6/3 Cooking breakfast over a gasoline stove. 1895 New Rev. Oct. 390 Thirteen [vehicles] were driven by petroleum (or gasolene) motors. 1895 Daily News 22 Nov. 2/2 Both [vehicles] used gasolene motors. 1896 Cosmopolitan XX. 420/2 The practicability of the gasolene road vehicle. 1908 Westm. Gaz. 4 Aug. 10/1 The winner became unconscious..through the gasolene fumes. 1926 Daily Colonist (Victoria, B.C.) 13 July 1/3 Albert..attended the gasoline station of Corfield Motors. 1959 K. Davis Human Society 627 A change from horse-powered to gasoline-powered vehicles. |