Where does “airbreathing” come from?

airbreathing (English) comes from English breathing, from English breathe, from Middle English brethen, from Middle English breth, from Old English brǣþ, from Proto-Germanic brēþiz, from Proto-Indo-European bʰrē-t-, from Proto-Indo-European bʰer- — to bear, carry.

airbreathing (English): Using the air from the atmosphere for combustion;...

Definitions

  1. Using the air from the atmosphere for combustion;...

Ancestry of “airbreathing”, step by step

airbreathing traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English breathing

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishbreathingpresent participle of breathe; The act of...
2EnglishbreatheTo draw air into (inhale), and expel air from (exhale), the lungs in order to extract oxygen and excrete waste gases
3Middle Englishbrethento breathe, blow, exhale, odour
4Middle Englishbrethbreath
5Old Englishbrǣþodor, scent, stink, exhalation, vapor
6Proto-Germanicbrēþizvapour; steam; breath; odour, smell
7Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰrē-t-exhalation from heat; steam
8Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰer-to bear, carry

via English aïr

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishaïr
2Middle Englishaireair
3Old Frenchairair mixture of gases that make up the earth's atmosphere
4Latināērair
5Ancient Greekἀήρmist; air; wind
6Ancient Greekauhḗr
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰer-Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰrē-t-Every word from Proto-Germanic brēþiz