Origin of "aeroplane"

The Raven wrote:
Whilst taking a 2minute break from some mind numbing work I pondered on the
origin of the word "aeroplane" and it's definition. Interesting word once
you get passed the now common "plane" equals aircraft.

Initially, aircraft were "flying machines" or "airships" but at some stage
the word "aeroplane" was arrived at.

"aero" is rather obvious, presumably "of the air". However, "plane" seems an
unusual choice of word. To "plane" the air? To fly along a "plane" of air? A
wing "planing" through air?

If "plane" is to "planing" then it would seem logical to assume this is in
reference to wings "planing the air"

Can anyone point to a defining point in time when the word came into use and
it's original definition/interpretation?

PS. Does a Fighter plane "plane fighters"? There, now it's on topic for the
group....... :-)

The Raven

"Plane" comes from the Greek word "planos" which means "wandering".

MfG

Geoff.

--
A Formula One [tm](r)(c) Database is available at http://glibs.ssmmdd.co.uk/

Database will be updated after the French GP

"Plane" comes from the Greek word "planos" which means "wandering".

MfG

Geoff.

Did you read that somewhere - or do you have actual experience being a
Greek?

Jack


--
A Formula One [tm](r)(c) Database is available at
http://glibs.ssmmdd.co.uk/

Database will be updated after the French GP

wrote:
On Wed, 2 Jul 2003 14:26:00 +1000, "The Raven"
wrote:

http://www.etymonline.com
airplane - 1907, in Amer.Eng. largely superseding earlier aeroplane
(1873, and still common in British Eng.), from Fr. aéroplane, from Gk.
aero- "air" + stem of planer "to soar" (see plane (1)). Aircraft is
also from 1907; airship is 1888, from Ger. Luftschiff "motor-driver
dirigible."

plane (1) - "flat surface," 1604, from L. plantum "flat surface," from
neut. of planus "flat, level." The verb meaning "soar, glide on
motionless wings" is 1410, from M.Fr. planer, from L. planum on notion
of bird gliding with flattened wings.

Interesting. Slightly different from my dictionary. I do concede that my
dictionary may be in error, though. Personally, I thought it came from
the Greek word but I am not 100% certain of that.

MfG

Geoff.

--
A Formula One [tm](r)(c) Database is available at http://glibs.ssmmdd.co.uk/

Database will be updated after the French GP

Geoff -

I just thought I'd beat Art to it...

Jack

"Geoff May" wrote in message
...
Jack G wrote:
"Plane" comes from the Greek word "planos" which means "wandering".

Did you read that somewhere - or do you have actual experience being a
Greek?

Nope, I'm not Greek.

I looked it up in my dictionary, "The New Collins Concise English
Dictionary", but that was to make sure I'd got the right word. I
remember looking it up at school once and needed to refresh my memory.

MfG

Geoff.

--
A Formula One [tm](r)(c) Database is available at
http://glibs.ssmmdd.co.uk/

Database will be updated after the French GP

On Wed, 02 Jul 2003 06:51:29 +0200, Geoff May
wrote:

"Plane" comes from the Greek word "planos" which means "wandering".

I believe you're thinking of "planet" here. The planets were regarded
as being "wanderers" because they seemed to wander in relation to the
stars.

Mary

--
Mary Shafer Retired aerospace research engineer

"Turn to kill, not to engage." LCDR Willie Driscoll, USN

In article , The Raven
writes
Whilst taking a 2minute break from some mind numbing work I pondered on the
origin of the word "aeroplane" and it's definition. Interesting word once
you get passed the now common "plane" equals aircraft.

Initially, aircraft were "flying machines" or "airships" but at some stage
the word "aeroplane" was arrived at.

"aero" is rather obvious, presumably "of the air". However, "plane" seems an
unusual choice of word. To "plane" the air? To fly along a "plane" of air? A
wing "planing" through air?

If "plane" is to "planing" then it would seem logical to assume this is in
reference to wings "planing the air"

Can anyone point to a defining point in time when the word came into use and
it's original definition/interpretation?

PS. Does a Fighter plane "plane fighters"? There, now it's on topic for the
group....... :-)

Here's a bunch of stuff from the Shorter Oxford English Dictionary:
(the numbers show the century when usage was first noted; M19 = mid
19th, etc.)


aeroplane n. & v. M19. [In sense A.1 f. AERO- + PLANE; in sense A.2 f.
Fr. aéroplane, f. aéro- AERO- + Gk -planos wandering.]

A n. unknown
1 An aerofoil. M19-E20.
2 An aircraft that is heavier than air and has fixed (non-rotating)
wings. L19.
B v.i. Fly like or in an aeroplane. E20.


aero- comb. form of Gk aer air. Often spec. w. ref. to aeroplanes and
aviation.


plane E17. [L planum flat surface, use as n. of neut. of planus PLAIN,
introduced in 17 as refash. of PLAIN to express the geometrical and
allied uses (cf. Fr. plan which similarly replaced plain).]

c A relatively thin, flat or slightly curved, usu. movable structure
used to produce an upwards, downwards, or occas. lateral force by the
flow of the surrounding air or water over its surface; an aerofoil, a
hydrofoil; spec. a hydroplane on a submarine. Cf. AEROPLANE E19.

HTH
--
Peter

Ying tong iddle-i po!

"The Raven" wrote in message
...
Whilst taking a 2minute break from some mind numbing work I pondered on
the
origin of the word "aeroplane" and it's definition. Interesting word once
you get passed the now common "plane" equals aircraft.

Initially, aircraft were "flying machines" or "airships" but at some stage
the word "aeroplane" was arrived at.

"aero" is rather obvious, presumably "of the air". However, "plane" seems
an
unusual choice of word. To "plane" the air? To fly along a "plane" of air?
A
wing "planing" through air?

If "plane" is to "planing" then it would seem logical to assume this is in
reference to wings "planing the air"

Can anyone point to a defining point in time when the word came into use
and
it's original definition/interpretation?

PS. Does a Fighter plane "plane fighters"? There, now it's on topic for
the
group....... :-)

The Raven





I wonder what the Wright brothers called their machine?

Stupot

Stuart Chapman wrote:

I wonder what the Wright brothers called their machine?

The Wright "Flyer"?
--
Andrew Chaplin
SIT MIHI GLADIUS SICUT SANCTO MARTINO
(If you're going to e-mail me, you'll have to get "yourfinger." out.)

"aero" is rather obvious, presumably "of the air". However, "plane" seems an
unusual choice of word. To "plane" the air? To fly along a "plane" of air? A
wing "planing" through air?

Since the usage is British (and I think "aeroplane" precedes
"airplane") I turn to the Shorter Oxford, which sez:

middle 19th century (!)

from the French (we will have to call it a Freedom Craft, I suppose)

in which language aero means aero

and plane is from the Greek planos = wandering


all the best -- Dan Ford (email: info AT danford.net)

see the Warbird's Forum at http://www.danford.net/index.htm
Vietnam | Flying Tigers | Pacific War | Brewster Buffalo | Piper Cub

On Wed, 02 Jul 2003 07:15:11 +0200, Geoff May
wrote:

Interesting. Slightly different from my dictionary. I do concede that my
dictionary may be in error, though. Personally, I thought it came from
the Greek word but I am not 100% certain of that.

You can be certain. The folks at Oxford University Press agree with
you, and OUP is God.

The Shorter Oxford for meanings and derivations.

Webster's Collegiate for pronunciation, American usage, and the
meaning of new words until the next SOED comes out in about ten years


all the best -- Dan Ford (email: info AT danford.net)

see the Warbird's Forum at http://www.danford.net/index.htm
Vietnam | Flying Tigers | Pacific War | Brewster Buffalo | Piper Cub