a zeppelin is a type of airship. airships are aircraft that float in air, because they are filled with a lightweight gas. a zeppelin is a dirigible, which means it is a rigid airship, but can be moved around by itself. it was developed by count ferdinand von zeppelin, in the early 20th century. the name zeppelin is now used as a common name for all rigid airships. zeppelins were used in the first world war. in the second world war the nazis largely used them for propaganda purposes.