Where does “airpower” come from?

Airpower comes from English air and power, where power derives from Middle English poer, Anglo-Norman eir, and Latin potens, meaning able or capable.

airpower (English): Airborne military power; an air force

Definitions

  1. Airborne military power; an air force

Ancestry of “airpower”, step by step

airpower traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English Power

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishPowerA button of a computer, a video game console, or...
2Middle EnglishpowerAbility, power or capability
3Anglo-Normanpoer—
4Latinpotēre—
5Latinpossepresent active infinitive of possum  "to be able...
6Latinpotisable, capable, possible
7Proto-Italicpotismaster, in control of
8Proto-Indo-Europeanpótismaster, ruler; husband
9Proto-Indo-Europeanph₃tis—
10Proto-Indo-Europeanpeh₃-to drink

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 peh₃- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European ph₃tis →Every word from Proto-Indo-European pótis →