Definition
A direct-current electric motor in which the field windings and the armature windings are connected in parallel (across the same voltage source) rather than in series. Also called a shunt-wound motor. This wiring arrangement gives the motor a relatively constant speed across a wide range of mechanical loads, because the field strength stays roughly the same regardless of how much current the armature is drawing.
Plain English
An electric motor wired so that the two main coil sets sit side by side across the power source instead of one after the other. The result is a motor that holds its speed fairly steady whether it's lightly or heavily loaded.
Context Anchor
Seen in aircraft electrical system and maintenance discussions, especially when describing how a DC motor is built and how it behaves under load.
Derivation
Parallel' comes from the Greek parallelos, meaning 'beside one another.' In electrical wiring, 'parallel' describes components connected across the same two points so they share the same voltage. Knowing that helps the term make sense: the field and armature coils sit beside one another across the supply, not end-to-end.
Why Pilots Care
Different motor wiring types behave very differently. A parallel-wound (shunt) motor holds speed well under changing load, which is why it's chosen for jobs that need steady rotation. A series-wound motor, by contrast, produces high starting torque but speed varies a lot with load. Knowing which type is installed helps when troubleshooting why a motor is running fast, slow, or not at all.
Analogy
Think of two lanes connected between the same start and end points. Electricity can feed the field coils through one path and the rotating part through another, instead of forcing all current through one single path.
Intuition Check
Do not assume “parallel-wound” means the wires are physically wrapped in parallel lines. It means the motor's field coils are electrically connected in a separate path across the same power source as the rotating part.
Example Sentence 1
The cabin blower uses a parallel-wound motor so the airflow stays steady even when the duct restriction changes.
Example Sentence 2
Technicians tested the parallel-wound motor in the landing-gear system before the next flight.