Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “airborne” come from?

Airborne comes from English air and the suffix -borne, with air deriving from Middle English air, Anglo-Norman eir, Latin aer, and ultimately Proto-Indo-European ǵʰeh₁ro-, meaning to breathe or blow.

airborne (English): In or carried by the air; In flight; Fitted to an...

Definitions

  1. In or carried by the air; In flight; Fitted to an...

Ancestry of “airborne”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishbornepast participle of bear; carried, supported
2Middle Englishboren—
3Old Englishborenpast participle of beran; born
4Old Englishberanto carry, bear; to wear; to sustain, support
5Proto-West Germanicberanto carry, to bear
6Proto-Germanicberanąto carry, to bear
7Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰéretito be carrying
8Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰēr-shiny, light brown

Words derived from “airborne”

  • nonairborne
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰēr- →