Moving staircases that carry people up or down between different levels without them having to climb or descend steps.
From 'escalate' (to increase or rise), coined in 1900 by the Otis Elevator Company, blending 'escalade' (a military assault) with '-ator' (from elevator).
The escalator was invented because someone realized people were too lazy to climb stairs—but it actually revolutionized how buildings were designed and made shopping malls possible by making upper floors accessible and profitable.
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