Petrol
/ˈpɛtrəl/noun
A flammable liquid fuel made from petroleum and used in internal combustion engines.
Did you know?The word ultimately traces back to Greek petra, meaning “rock,” so the everyday fuel in your tank is named through a chain that literally begins with “rock oil.”
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
πέτρα (pétra)
“rock, stone”
Late Latin
Latin
petra
“stone, rock”
Medieval Latin
Latin
petroleum
“rock oil; mineral oil”
19th Century
French
pétrole
“petroleum, mineral oil”
19th Century
English
petrol
“petroleum; later, motor fuel”