Etymology Map
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Machine

3 stages from Greek to English.

Today it means an apparatus using power to do work

Where does the word "machine" come from? It comes from Greek mēkhanē, passing through Latin before entering English (1540s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
mēkhanē
Greek · ancient
"device"
Greek, from 'mēkhos', means
2
Stage 2 of 3
machina
Latin · ancient
"structure, device"
used for siege engines and stage machinery
3
Stage 3 of 3
machine
English · 1540s
"structure"
'machine gun' dates from the 1870s
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Read the full story

Machine’s story begins in Greek: mēkhanē meant “device.” Greek, from 'mēkhos', means. By ancient, the word had taken hold in Latin as machina. Used for siege engines and stage machinery. It reached English by 1540s as machine. 'machine gun' dates from the 1870s. Today, machine means an apparatus using power to do work.