diesel-electric

or Die·sel-e·lec·tric

[ dee-zuhl-i-lek-trik, -suhl- ]

adjective

1. having an electric motor powered directly by an electric generator or by batteries charged by the generator, with the generator being driven by a diesel engine:

   a diesel-electric locomotive.

diesel-electric

noun

1. a locomotive fitted with a diesel engine driving an electric generator that feeds electric traction motors

adjective

1. of or relating to such a locomotive or system

Word History and Origins

Origin of diesel-electric¹

First recorded in 1920–25

Example Sentences

Modern diesel-electric submarines (SSKs) are very hard to detect.

From The Daily Beast

The Triumph is normally powered by six diesel electric generators, each the size of bus.

From The Daily Beast

Outside, Farid showed them the self-contained diesel-electric power plant.

From Project Gutenberg