rotor

The story

From an irregular clipping of rotator, originally in mathematics, coined by English mathematician and philosopher William Kingdon Clifford based on vector, see quotations. Doublet of rota and ruote.

First known use, by meaning

• from 1900s A rotating part of a mechanical device; for example, in an electric motor, generator, alternator, or pump.
• from 1900s In a disc brake, the metal disc attached to the wheel hub.
• from 1900s The wing of a helicopter or other rotary wing aircraft (e.g., heli-type drone).