aeolipile
noun
ae·ol·i·pile
variants or less commonly aeolipyle or eolipile
ē-ˈä-lə-ˌpīl
plural -s
: an apparatus that was invented in the second century b.c. and is often called the first steam engine and that consisted essentially of a closed vessel (as a globe or cylinder) with one or more projecting bent tubes out of which steam is made to pass from the vessel, the action of the steam jets causing it to revolve
Word History
Etymology
Latin & Greek; Latin aeolipila, by folk etymology (influence of Latin pila ball) from Greek aiolipylē, Aiolon pylē, from aioli- (from Aiolos, god of wind) or Aiolon (genitive of Aiolos) + pylē gate
First Known Use
1654, in the meaning defined above
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