Definition of the word elevator

The word "elevator" has its origins in the late 19th century. The first phrase used to describe a device that lifted people and goods between floors was "electric elevator". This term was coined by Elisha Otis, an American inventor who developed the first practical safety elevator in 1861. Otis' design used a system of pulleys and cables to lift cars between floors, and he installed his first elevator in a department store in New York City. The term "electric elevator" was eventually shortened to simply "elevator" as the technology became widespread and standardized. Today, the word "elevator" is used to describe a wide range of lifting devices, from residential building elevators to industrial cranes.