'fluid-powered' originates from the combination of 'fluid' and 'powered', where 'fluid' refers to a substance that can flow, and 'powered' means operated by a particular source of energy.

'fluid' comes from the Latin word 'fluidus', meaning 'flowing', and 'powered' is derived from the Old French 'poeir', meaning 'to be able'.

Initially, it referred to any system operated by a liquid or gas, and this meaning has remained consistent.