horsepower
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horsepower
- /ˈhɔɹsˌpaʊɚ/ US
- /ˈhɔːsˌpaʊə/ UK
Where it comes from
From horse + power: the unit was originally defined as the amount of power that a horse could provide.
Both non-metric and metric units of power were derived from effectively identical measurements of the power a draught horse could sustain over several hours, with the difference in watts solely due to different rounding errors to express that power in round numbers in the original non-SI units (ft·lbf/min and kgf⋅m/s respectively).
noun horsepowers · horsepower
- Power derived from the motion of a horse. Shillibeer's bus came in 1829 drawn by three horses. Later two horses were found sufficient to pull these closed wagonettes, which eventually had outside seats, and later on the substitution of a motor for horsepower.
-
A nonmetric unit of power with various definitions, commonly the mechanical horsepower, approximately equal to 745.7 watts.
Equally I can stand in a station like Lucerne in Switzerland, and watch with ill-concealed admiration the majestic entry of one of the latest Gotthard "Ae 6/6" electrics, packing 6,000 horsepower within its 60 ft. of length and 121 tons of weight, with its sleek dark green sides and handsome stainle
Similar: hp
-
Metric horsepower, a metric unit approximately equal to 735.5 watts.
Similar: PS
- Strength, performance capability, specs, or similar. political horsepower
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: hp, horse, drawbar, powerhouse, wattage, power, puissance, potency, strength, powerful, robustness, output, résumé, potential, force, energy
Translations
Every language
noun non-metric
| Español | caballo de vapor, caballo de fuerza, caballo de potencia |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 마력 maryeok |
| 日本語 | 馬力 bariki |
| 中文 | 馬力 /马力 mǎlì |
| Português | cavalo-vapor |
| Deutsch | Pferdestärke |
| Italiano | cavallo vapore |
| Română | cal-putere |
| Русский | лошади́ная си́ла lošadínaja síla |
| Tiếng Việt | mã lực |
noun metric
| Español | caballo de vapor |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 마력 maryeok |
| 日本語 | 馬力 bariki |
| 中文 | 馬力 /马力 mǎlì |
| हिन्दी | अश्वशक्ति aśvaśakti |
| Português | cavalo de vapor, cavalo-vapor |
| Français | cheval-vapeur |
| Deutsch | Pferdestärke |
| Italiano | cavallo vapore |
| Ελληνικά | ίππος íppos |
| Română | cal-putere |
| Русский | лошади́ная си́ла lošadínaja síla, л. с. l. s. |
| Tiếng Việt | mã lực |
| العربية | حِصَان ḥiṣān |
| עברית | כּוֹחַ סוּס kóaḥ sus |
noun strength
| 中文 | 馬力 /马力 mǎlì |
|---|---|
| Português | força |
| Русский | лошади́ная си́ла lošadínaja síla |
Talk about this word "horsepower." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/horsepower. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. horsepower. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/horsepower "horsepower." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/horsepower.Cite this
@misc{horsepower_2026,
title = {horsepower},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/horsepower},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
