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aérostat

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Etymology and origin of the French word aérostat

Confidence
Established
Formation
Compound
First attested
1783 Meusnier, Mémoire sur l'équilibre des machines aérostatiques More words from the 18th century
Ultimate origin
Ancient Greek ἀήρ,στατός

Pronunciation

  • /a.e.ʁɔs.ta/[1]

Forms

aérostat m (plural aérostats)[1] Also aérostate (1783); Féraud wrote in 1787 that both forms were found in the newspapers, the first more often.[2][3]

Etymology

It is formed from French aéro- + -stat.[4][1] The TLFi analyses it as the prefix and Ancient Greek στατός (statós, “supported, standing”),[2][5][6] and Wiktionary as Ancient Greek ἀήρ (aḗr, “air”) and the same adjective.[1][7] Littré compares Latin stō (“to stand”).[7]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found on 3 December 1783 in Meusnier's Mémoire sur l'équilibre des machines aérostatiques, for a large balloon filled with a gas lighter than air, which holds it up in the air.[2][6]

Semantic evolution

The word belongs to the first years of ballooning: two weeks after Meusnier's use, the form aérostate was used of Montgolfier's balloon.[2] The derivatives aérostation (1784) and aérostier (1794), shortened from aérostatier to avoid the group -tat-, followed.[3]

The term covers captive and free balloons, sounding balloons and airships, the last now called dirigeables.[2] The Petit Robert opposes the aérostat, held up by a gas lighter than air, to the aérodyne.[4]

Timeline

  • 3 December 1783 – Meusnier uses aérostat.[2]
  • 17 December 1783 – The form aérostate is used of Montgolfier's balloon.[2]
  • 1784 – Aérostation is recorded.[3]
  • 1787 – Féraud notes that both aérostat and aérostate are in use.[2]
  • 1794 – Aérostier is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. (aeronautics) An aerostat: an aircraft held up in the air by a gas lighter than air, such as a balloon or a dirigible: l'aérostat s'éleva au-dessus de la ville.[2][4][8]

Word family

  • aérostation
  • aérostier

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i 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. ^ a b c d Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
  4. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  5. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  6. ^ a b Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  7. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
  8. ^ Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)
Cite this entry

“Aérostat.” Etymologically, 15 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/a%C3%A9rostat. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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