Why is the close looped model under control called plant?
I have heard that the word comes from &quot;plant&quot; as in &quot;steam plant&quot;.  But I don't know of any historical research that's been done to pin down the term.
I did just check my copy of &quot;On Governors&quot; by James Clerk Maxwell himself (that guy got around).  At least in 1868, Maxwell wasn't using the word &quot;plant&quot; for &quot;thing being controlled&quot;.