Where does “gyrocopter” come from?
gyrocopter (English) comes from English copter, from English helicopter, from Esperanto helico, from French hélice, from Latin helīx, from Ancient Greek ἕλιξ, from Ancient Greek πτερόν, from Proto-Indo-European péth₂r̥ — to spread out; to fly.
gyrocopter (English): An autogyro, similar to a helicopter
Definitions
- An autogyro, similar to a helicopter
Ancestry of “gyrocopter”, step by step
gyrocopter traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English copter
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | copter | A helicopter; To helicopter: to transport by... |
| 2 | English | helicopter | An aircraft that is borne along by one or more... |
| 3 | Esperanto | helico | helix |
| 4 | French | hélice | helix; propeller |
| 5 | Latin | helīx | a kind of ivy |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | ἕλιξ | Anything twisted, winding, or spiral; The tendril... |
| 7 | Ancient Greek | πτερόν | feather; wing; Any winged creature |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | péth₂r̥ | wing; feather |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | peth₂- | to spread out; to fly |
via English gyro
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | gyro | A gyroscope; A gyrocompass; An autogyro |
| 2 | English | gyroscope | an apparatus composed of a wheel which spins... |
| 3 | French | gyroscope | gyroscope |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | σκοπός | watcher, lookout; protector, guardian; spy, scout |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | σκέπτομαι | I look at, examine; I examine, consider, think |
| 6 | Proto-Hellenic | sképťomai | to look at |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | spéḱyeti | to be looking at, to keep looking at |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | speḱ- | to see, to look, to observe |