Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “air base” come from?

air base (English) comes from English Base, from Middle English base, from Old French base, from Latin basis, from Ancient Greek βάσις, from Proto-Hellenic gʷə́tis, from Proto-Indo-European gʷémtis, from Proto-Indo-European gʷem- — to step.

air base (English): A military airport, providing housing and support...

Definitions

  1. A military airport, providing housing and support...

Ancestry of “air base”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishBase—
2Middle EnglishbaseA foundation or base; the bottom of a building;...
3Old Frenchbasebase
4LatinbasisA pedestal, foot, base; basis, foundation; The...
5Ancient Greekβάσιςstep; rhythm; foot
6Proto-Hellenicgʷə́tisstep
7Proto-Indo-Europeangʷémtisstep, act of walking
8Proto-Indo-Europeangʷem-to step
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʷem- →