Where does “oilbird” come from?

oilbird (English) comes from English oil, from Middle English oyle, from Old French oile, from Latin oleum, from Ancient Greek ἔλαιον, from Ancient Greek ἐλαία, from Proto-Hellenic elaíwā, from Proto-Indo-European loiwom.

oilbird (English): Steatornis caripensis, a nocturnal South American...

Definitions

  1. Steatornis caripensis, a nocturnal South American...

Ancestry of “oilbird”, step by step

oilbird traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English oil

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishoilLiquid fat; Petroleum-based liquid used as fuel...
2Middle EnglishoyleThe oil pressed from olives; olive oil; Oil as...
3Old Frenchoileoil
4Latinoleumolive oil; the palaestra
5Ancient Greekἔλαιονolive oil, commonly used as an anointing oil; any...
6Ancient Greekἐλαίαolive tree; olive; naevus
7Proto-Hellenicelaíwā
8Proto-Indo-Europeanloiwom

via English bird

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishbirdA member of the class of animals Aves in the...
2Middle Englishbrida young bird, a bird in general; Alternative form...
3Old Englishbriddyoung bird, chick; chicken
Every word from Proto-Indo-European loiwomEvery word from Proto-Hellenic elaíwāEvery word from Ancient Greek ἐλαία