Definition of cylinder

The word "cylinder" has its roots in Greek and Latin. The Greek word "kylos" (κύλλος) refers to a hill or a lump, and the Latin word "cilindrus" is derived from it. The Latin "cilindrus" is later adapted into Middle English as "cylindre". The earliest recorded use of the word "cylinder" dates back to the 14th century, when it referred to a mathematical concept - a three-dimensional shape with two parallel and circular bases connected by a curved surface. Over time, the term was applied to various objects with a curved shape, such as containers made of metal or ceramics. In the 18th century, the word "cylinder" gained popularity in the context of steam engines and pumping levers. The modern meaning of the word as we know it today, referring to tubes or shapes used in machinery, engineering and physics, evolved from its initial mathematical context.