Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “ornithopter” come from?

ornithopter (English) comes from French ornithoptère, from Ancient Greek πτερόν, from Proto-Indo-European péth₂r̥, from Proto-Indo-European peth₂- — to spread out; to fly.

ornithopter (English): An aircraft that generates lift through the...

Definitions

  1. An aircraft that generates lift through the...

Ancestry of “ornithopter”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Frenchornithoptère—
2Ancient Greekπτερόνfeather; wing; Any winged creature
3Proto-Indo-Europeanpéth₂r̥wing; feather
4Proto-Indo-Europeanpeth₂-to spread out; to fly
Every word from Proto-Indo-European peth₂- →