Words & TermsSport and recreation
petrolhead
A motor-racing or motor-vehicle enthusiast.
In a sentence
Every petrolhead in town turned up for the historic-car meet.
Where it came from
A transparent compound of petrol and -head, modelled on labels for enthusiasts. Used for a person strongly interested in cars, engines or motor racing; the ANDC includes it among Australian sporting vocabulary.
- Initial era
- 1900–1999
- Where used
- Australia-wide
- Use today
- Current informal