Definition of motor vehicle

The term "motor vehicle" emerged during the late 19th century, as the automobile began to gain popularity. At the time, most vehicles were primarily pulled by horses or other animals, but a small number of inventors were experimenting with self-propelled vehicles powered by internal combustion engines. The term "self-propelled vehicle" was used to describe these early models, but it was often shortened to "automobile" in the English-speaking world. However, the German word "Kraftfahrzeug" was already in use to describe these vehicles, and it was adopted in English as "motor vehicle." The word "motor" simply refers to an engine that converts fuel into mechanical energy, while "vehicle" is a more general term for any machine designed for transport. Together, the two words describe a self-propelled machine that relies on an internal combustion engine to move. Over time, the term "motor vehicle" became more commonly used in legal and business contexts, as governments developed regulatory frameworks for these new modes of transportation. Today, the term is widely used to describe a broad range of self-propelled vehicles, from cars and trucks to buses and motorcycles. Its meaning has remained more or less consistent over the past century, as the technology that powers these vehicles has evolved dramatically.