Hardware
/ˈhɑːd.wɛə/noun
Physical equipment or machinery, especially the parts of a computer or the tools and fittings used for a particular purpose.
Did you know?The word is a transparent English compound from hard + ware, and its modern tech meaning only emerged in the 20th century when people needed a word for the physical machine beneath the code.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
heard
“hard, firm, solid”
Old English
OE
waru
“goods, merchandise”
Middle English
ME
hardeware
“metal goods, tools, utensils, or equipment”
19th Century
English
hardware
“ironmongery; metal fittings and household goods”
20th Century
English
hardware
“the physical components of a machine or computer”