Word of the Week: Android
[modern L. androides Gk. Andr-, “man”] an artificial being that resembles a human in form, especially one made from flesh-like material (as opposed to metal or plastic). [Early cites refer to an alchemical creation and to purely mechanical automata.]
1727-51 E. Chambers Cyclopaedia: Albertus Magnus is recorded as having made a famous androides.
1883 J. Ogilvie Imperial Dictionary of English Language 102/1: Android […] A machine in the human form which, by certain springs, imitates the natural motions of a living man.
About Me
- CyberKitten
- I have a burning need to know stuff and I love asking awkward questions.
2 comments:
Wow. I'm really surprised that word is as old as it is. I would have guessed its origins around the time of the heyday of early sci-fi.
Weird isn't it. I too would imagine that most, in not all, of the words used in SF date from the 1930's to the 1960's. Not so apparently - at least for some of them....
Post a Comment