automaton noun
Category: theory: mechanism.
1604, Cawdrey:
Not listed.
1626, Cockeram:
Not listed.
1658, Phillips:
Not listed. Researcher's notes: Like Cockeram, Phillips includes the word autonomy which he defines in the same way as Cockeram. In addition, Phillips includes the word automatous, "(Greek) having a motion within it self."
1676, Coles: (autome, automaton)
G. an instrument moving of it self.