aeolipile Meaning, Definition & Usage

Æ*ol"i*pile, Æ*ol"i*pyle noun (Also<

• AEolipile
• AEolipyle
• Æolipile
• Æolipyle
• Eolipile
• Eolipyle

)

Etymology

L. aeolipilae; Aeolus god of the winds + pila a ball, or Gr. gate (i. e., doorway of Æolus); cf. F. éolipyle.

Definitions

1. An apparatus consisting chiefly of a closed vessel (as a globe or cylinder) with one or more projecting bent tubes, through which steam is made to pass from the vessel, causing it to revolve. Written also eolipile. ✍ Such an apparatus was first described by Hero of Alexandria about 200 years b. c. It has often been called the first steam engine.