'diesel-powered' originates from the name 'Rudolf Diesel', the inventor of the diesel engine, combined with the word 'power', which comes from Old French 'poeir', meaning 'ability or strength'.

'diesel' was named after Rudolf Diesel, and 'power' evolved from Old French 'poeir' to Middle English 'power', eventually becoming the modern English word 'power'.

Initially, 'power' meant 'ability or strength', but over time it evolved to include the concept of mechanical energy or force.