'motor-powered' originates from the combination of 'motor' and 'powered', where 'motor' refers to a machine that supplies motive power and 'powered' means supplied with energy.

'motor' comes from the Latin word 'motor', meaning 'mover', and 'powered' is derived from the Old French 'poeir', meaning 'to be able'.

Initially, it meant 'driven by a machine', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.