Where does “waveplate” come from?

waveplate (English) comes from English plate, from Old French plate, from Medieval Latin plata, from Vulgar Latin plattus, from Ancient Greek πλατύς, from Proto-Indo-European pléth₂us, from Proto-Indo-European pleth₂- — flat.

waveplate (English): A thin layer of a birefringent material that is...

Definitions

  1. A thin layer of a birefringent material that is...

Ancestry of “waveplate”, step by step

waveplate traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English plate

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishplateA slightly curved but almost flat dish from which...
2Old Frenchplatea flat metal disk; a flat plate of armor
3Medieval Latinplatasilver
4Vulgar Latinplattusflattened; flat; smooth
5Ancient Greekπλατύςwide, broad; flat, level; broad-shouldered
6Proto-Indo-Europeanpléth₂usflat, broad
7Proto-Indo-Europeanpleth₂-flat

via English wave

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishwaveTo move back and forth repeatedly and somewhat...
2Middle EnglishwaweA wave; Any sort of flowing or spurting motion;...
3Old Englishwǣġa weight; a tool for weighing, balance, scale
4Proto-Germanicwēgazwave; sea
5Proto-Indo-Europeanweǵʰ-to bring; to transport
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pleth₂-Every word from Proto-Indo-European pléth₂usEvery word from Ancient Greek πλατύς