aéronef

Forms

aéronef m (plural aéronefs)^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French aéro- + nef (“ship”).^[2][3][4][1] The first element is a learned one, taken from Ancient Greek ἀήρ (aḗr, “air”),^[5] and nef, the old word for a ship, goes back to nāvis.^[6] Littré likewise explains it from the Greek word and the French one.^[7] A form aérinef, built with the element ⟨aéri-⟩ of Latin origin, is recorded in 1847.^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Transon used it in the Magasin pittoresque in 1844 for a free balloon that could be steered at will, as opposed to the stationary balloon, the aérostat.^[2][4]

Semantic evolution

By 1865 it was applied to flying machines heavier than air, as opposed to aérostats,^[2] a sense the Petit Robert describes as machines propelled by flapping or rotating wings and now marks as obsolete.^[8] From the early 20th century it became the generic term for any device able to move through the air, chiefly in administrative language.^[8][4][2]

Rey notes that the archaic sense of nef “ship” served to form both aéronef and astronef, and that both seem to have gone out of fashion quickly.^[9]

Timeline

• 1844 – Transon uses aéronef in the Magasin pittoresque.^[2][4]
• 1847 – The variant aérinef is recorded.^[2]
• 1865 – Saveney uses it of machines heavier than air.^[2]
• Early 20th century – It becomes the generic term for any aircraft.^[8]

Meanings

Noun

1. (technical, administrative) Any aircraft, the generic term for every device able to travel through the air.^[2][8][4][1]
2. (obsolete) A flying machine heavier than air, as opposed to an aérostat.^[8][2]
3. A spaceship.^[1]

Word family

• porte-aéronefs

Related words

• astronef
• nef
• aérostat
• aérinef

Usage notes

The word was long feminine, because of the gender of nef;^[4] Littré still gives it as feminine (une aéronef).^[7]

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
3. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c d e f Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
5. ^ Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
6. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 7, 68a
7. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
8. ^ a b c d e Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
9. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert