Count Fer⋅di⋅nand von /ˈfɛrdɪˌnɑnt fən/Show Spelled Pronunciation[fer-di-nahnt fuhn]Show IPA, 1838–1917, German general and aeronaut: designer and manufacturer of the zeppelin.
1900, from Ger. Zeppelin, short for Zeppelinschiff "Zeppelin ship," after Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin (1838-1917), Ger. general who perfected its design.