Etymology Explorer › French

Where does “héli-” come from?

héli- (French) comes from French hélicoptère, from Ancient Greek ἕλιξ, from Ancient Greek πτερόν, from Proto-Indo-European péth₂r̥, from Proto-Indo-European peth₂- — to spread out; to fly.

héli- (French): of, or pertaining to helicopters

Definitions

  1. of, or pertaining to helicopters

Ancestry of “héli-”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Frenchhélicoptèrehelicopter
2Ancient GreekἕλιξAnything twisted, winding, or spiral; The tendril...
3Ancient Greekπτερόνfeather; wing; Any winged creature
4Proto-Indo-Europeanpéth₂r̥wing; feather
5Proto-Indo-Europeanpeth₂-to spread out; to fly

Words derived from “héli-”

  • hélitreuillage
  • hélisurface
  • hélitransporter
  • hélitreuiller
Every word from Proto-Indo-European peth₂- →