What's in a Name?

This week the server has been down for my school email because they are treating it for asbestos... Now, funny enough, I didn't know a server could suffer from asbestos...

In my mind, a server is something out in cyber space that hands you things... emails, photos, etc... it pushes your images and messages along through imaginary space to your friends' and family's computers.

You see, I never imagined a server being an actual object, but rather... more like a code or imaginary compound in cyber space... like putting jet fuel in your motorcycle... it looks the same, but it's gonna give you some speed.

I also imagine a robot lady handing out hors d'ouvres on a very chic looking platinum tray....

So why do they call it a server anyway?