Automaton \Au*tom"a*ton\, n.; pl. L. Automata, E. Automatons. [L. fr. Gr. ?, neut. of ? self-moving; ? self + a root ma, man, to strive, think, cf. ? to strive. See Mean, v. i.]

1. Any thing or being regarded as having the power of spontaneous motion or action. --Huxley.

So great and admirable an automaton as the world. --Boyle.

These living automata, human bodies. --Boyle.

2. A self-moving machine, or one which has its motive power within itself; -- applied chiefly to machines which appear to imitate spontaneously the motions of living beings, such as men, birds, etc.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)