horsepower
UK: ˈhɔːsˌpaʊə | US: ˈhɔːrsˌpaʊər
n. a unit of power equal to 550 foot-pounds per second (approximately 745.7 watts), originally used to measure the output of steam engines and later applied to internal combustion engines.
Coined by engineer James Watt in the late 18th century to market his improved steam engine, "horsepower" compared machine output to the work capacity of draft horses. The term combines "horse" (a familiar animal symbolizing strength) and "power" (energy or force), creating a vivid analogy for industrial-era consumers. Watt calculated that one horse could turn a mill wheel 144 times in an hour (or 2.5 times per minute), leading to the standardized definition.
The car's engine produces 300 horsepower, making it exceptionally fast.
Early steam engines replaced the work of dozens of horses, measured in horsepower.
Farmers in the 1800s often compared machinery efficiency using horsepower ratings.
Electric motors are now rated in kilowatts, but horsepower remains a common metric.
The term "horsepower" persists as a legacy unit in automotive industries worldwide.