robot
noun
Origin
Czech
robota — forced labor or drudgery
Overview
Meaning Now
- A machine that performs tasks automatically or under programmed control.
Literal older meaning
forced labor or drudgery
Language path
Czech → International scientific vocabulary → Modern English
Earliest form
robota
Earliest period
Czech
Journey
Robot comes from Czech robota, meaning forced labor or drudgery. The modern international sense was popularized by Karel Čapek’s 1920 play R.U.R., where artificial workers challenge the idea of labor and humanity.
Evolution
- Czech
robota
“forced labor or hard service”
- 1920
robot
“artificial worker in R.U.R.”
- Modern English
robot
“a machine capable of programmed work”
Connections
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External references use DefinedTerm semantics.