avion
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Pronunciation
- IPA: /a.vjɔ̃/[1]
Forms
avion m (plural avions)[1]
Etymology
It was coined by the engineer Clément Ader as the name of his flying machines, l'Avion I“, ”l'Avion II (1875), from Latin avis (“bird”) with the suffix “-on”.[2][3][1][4] The GLLF dates Ader's use to 1890.[4]
Earliest recorded meaning
It is first a proper name, Avion, the machine invented by Clément Ader (1875).[2][3]
Semantic evolution
About 1913–14 it came to mean a military aeroplane, and it gradually replaced aéroplane, which was far more usual until about 1920.[2][3][1]
Timeline
- 1875 – Avion, the name of Ader's machine.[2][3]
- 1890 – Ader's use, according to the GLLF.[4]
- c. 1913–14 – A military aeroplane.[2][3]
- c. 1920 – It displaces aéroplane.[2]
Meanings
Noun
- An aeroplane, aircraft: prendre l'avion, voyager en avion, avion de ligne, avion à réaction.[3][4][1]
- Par avion: by airmail.[3]
Related words
- aviation
- aviateur
- hydravion
- porte-avions
- Latin avis
References
- ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
- ^ a b c d e f Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
- ^ a b c d e f g Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
- ^ a b c d Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse