robot n.
a (semi-)intelligent artificial being typically made of metal and resembling in some way a human or other animal
Originally with reference to the mass-produced workers in Karel Čapek’s play R.U.R.: Rossum’s Universal Robots (1920) which are assembled from artificially synthesized organic material.
[< Czech robot (1920 in R.U.R.: Rossum’s Universal Robots, a play by Karel Čapek (1890–1938), Czech author; the subtitle of the Czech play is in English) < robota forced labour, drudgery.
According to Karel Čapek, the word was suggested to him by his brother Josef (1887–1945) as an alternative to his original intention of coining a word ultimately < classical Latin labor ‘work; labor’.]
Robotics
-
1920
page image
Karel Čapek
bibliography
RUR[:] Rossum’s Universal Robots.
(title of play) -
1922 N.Y. Times 13 Aug. 78
Robots were by all means better for use in factories and in armies, making cheap labor material, and not causing any troubles as strikers.
-
1923
You see…the Robots have no interest in life. They have no enjoyments.
tr. K. Čapek R.U.R. 28 -
1925
‘Marse Nick,’ he demanded, ‘is dey real men or does dey go by machinery?’ ‘Blessed if I know, Jake… You'd best ask Mister Jeremy.’ ‘Sort of Robots I’d say, Nick. But it’s a puzzle we shall have to solve later,’ said Jeremy.
City of No Escape 58
-
1936
page image
Jack Williamson
bibliography
Kid, what are you doing at the shop at midnight? Think you are a robot secretary, or something?… Ought to be home in bed, kid.
Ruler of Fate in Weird Tales Apr. 388/1 -
1940
page image
I am a robot. A metal man with a brain of sponge iridium. I have gears and wheels and I run on a battery. True enough. But I have the mind of a man!
Fights a War in Amazing Stories Dec. 11/1 -
1941
page image
Frank Edward Arnold
bibliography
The tank was, of course, a kind of super-robot and was now out of action as far as driving itself went.
Mecanica in Cosmic Stories Mar. 30/2
-
1955
page image
Chad Oliver
bibliography
The ship carried two pilots, a navigator, a doctor, fifty babies, twenty-five special humanoid robots, computers, and supplies.
Field Expedient in Astounding Science-Fiction Jan. 91/2
-
1964 Worlds of If Jan. 74
page image
He knew a robot was only a tool to be used by men. But the big question was—who was using who?
-
1981
page image
Felix C. Gotschalk
bibliography
[‘]Good evening, gentlemen’, the robot said…. The robot was a Robert Redford–Lee Majors physiog combo, and sported a slightly toned-down Schwartzenagger [sic] body.
Take a Midget Step in Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction June 91/2 -
1995
page image
Paul Brazier
bibliography
In Short Circuit a combat robot achieves sentience and is a good guy, here a combat robot goes out of control, killing everything it sees, and is shut down.
Rambles Around My Macintosh in Interzone Aug. 63/2 -
2009
page image
Robert Reed
bibliography
I sat across from him and let him see a small smile, and the robot asked about my life of late, and I shrugged without commitment.
Creatures of Well-Defined Habits in Asimov’s Science Fiction Aug. 38 -
2020
Myke Cole
bibliography
You want anything else? A robot to massage your feet three times a day? A new Porsche?
Sixteenth Watch 53
Research requirements
antedating 1920
Earliest cite
in the subtitle of Čapek’s play
Last modified 2021-03-18 15:06:26
In the compilation of some
entries, HDSF has drawn extensively on corresponding entries
in OED.