Where does “airfield” come from?
Airfield combines English air with field, which derives from Middle English feld, Anglo-Norman eir, and Latin heres, ultimately tracing to Proto-Indo-European pelh₂-.
airfield (English): An open field designated for the taking off and...
Definitions
- An open field designated for the taking off and...
Ancestry of “airfield”, step by step
airfield traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English field
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | field | A land area free of woodland, cities, and towns;... |
| 2 | Middle English | feeld | A field; The countryside; empty land that... |
| 3 | Old English | feld | field |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | felþu | field |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | felþuz | field, plain |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | pelh₂- | to approach |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | pel- | to cover, to wrap; skin, hide, cloth; to fold |