My theory is that diesels (like a 123 240 auto) really don't accelerate. They more or less "accumulate" velocity (and veerryyy slowly, at that). Therefore, the pedal is an accumulator?
Other than that I agree, using the correct term helps to be precise in our communication. If I tell you to whack something with a BFH, ya'll know what I mean more or less. If I tell you to use a soft face hammer on something, we have gone up a level in precision. (btw, I actually heard someone tell a partner to use a BFH (by the letters-not the full phase!) on a CSI or something one time. Was rolling on the floor laughing at seeing the terminology used on public braodcast.