aeolipile


ae·ol·i·pile

A5115150 (ē-ŏl′ə-pīl′)n. A device containing a usually spherical chamber or container, in which steam is heated and ejected through one or more narrow tubes to create propulsion or torque.
[French éolipyle, from Latin aeolipila : Aeolus, god of the winds; see Aeolus + pila, ball; akin to pilus, hair (Roman leather balls being stuffed with hair).]

aeolipile

or

aeolipyle

n (General Physics) a device illustrating the reactive forces of a gas jet: usually a spherical vessel mounted so as to rotate and equipped with angled exit pipes from which steam within it escapes[C17: from Latin aeolīpilae balls of Aeolus or aeolīpylae gates of Aeolus]