Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “midair” come from?

Midair derives from air, which comes from Middle English air, Anglo-Norman eir, Latin āēr meaning air or atmosphere, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰeh₁ro-.

midair (English): In the act of flight; airborne; a collision...

Definitions

  1. In the act of flight; airborne; a collision...

Ancestry of “midair”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishMIDInitialism of mobile information device
2Englishmid-range—
3EnglishrangeA line or series of mountains, buildings, etc; A...
4Middle Englishrengen—
5Old Frenchrengierto line up; to form ranks
6Old Frenchrengplace; position
7Latinrencusrow; order, rank
8Gaulishrekos—
9Proto-Celticreketito arrange
10Proto-Indo-European(H)rek-to set in order
Every word from Proto-Indo-European (H)rek- →