Coined by Burdin from Latin turbō 'whirlwind, spinning top,' for the rotary engine that harnesses flowing fluid.
A rotary engine driven by a continuous flow of water, steam, gas, or air striking its blades.
From French turbine, coined by the French mining engineer Claude Burdin in 1822 from Latin turbo (genitive turbinis) 'whirlwind, spinning top,' from turba 'tumult, crowd.' Burdin's student Benoît Fourneyron built the first practical water turbine in 1827, achieving 80% efficiency—a revolution in hydropower. Key roots: *twer- (Proto-Indo-European: "to turn