geoff may

"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

jack g

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

Jack


http://glibs.ssmmdd.co.uk/

geoff may

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

jack g

Geoff -

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

Jack

mary shafer

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
miliff@qnet.com
"Turn to kill, not to engage." LCDR Willie Driscoll, USN

peter twydell

In article <bdtms7$2135$1@otis.netspace.net.au>, The Raven
<wsmc@flashmail.com> writes


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!

stuart chapman

I wonder what the Wright brothers called their machine?

Stupot

andrew chaplin

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.)

cub driver

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

cub driver

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