Learn English – Where does the term “hardware” in computer science comes from

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The term Software was coined in 195x. And it was opposed the term Hardware, physical part of a computer system, which is tangible. But where does the term Hardware comes from (from which of the meanings it was derived: https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/hardware)? Was it transfered from one of those meanings in English language or maybe it was borrowed from another language?

Best Answer

From EtymologyOnline:

mid-15c., "small metal goods," from hard + ware (n.). In the sense of "physical components of a computer" it dates from 1947. Hardware store attested by 1789.

I can't find anything else that goes in to more detail. Seems to me like in a computer sense, the term 'hardware' was simply borrowed.

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