helicopter English · revision 7551

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1861|origins=grc ἕλιξ}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈhɛl.iˌkɒp.tə(ɹ)/, /ˈhɛl.ɪˌkɒp.tə(ɹ)/ ''(UK)''; /ˈhɛlɪˌkɑptɜɹ/, /ˈhilɪˌkɑptɜɹ/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|fr|hélicoptère]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) formed from Greek [[m|grc|ἕλιξ|tr=hélix|t=spiral]] (stem helik-; see [[helix]]) and [[m|grc|πτερόν|tr=pterón|t=wing]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from PIE [[ine-pro|*peth₂-|alt=*pet-|t=to rush, fly]].^(Etymonline) Pteron is also in [[pterodactyl]].^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A flying machine lifted by spiral aerofoils: 1861 in the OED and Etymonline;^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) 1887 in Barnhart and MWU.^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The idea was to gain lift from spiral aerofoils, and it did not work.^(Etymonline) Jules Verne used the word in ''The Clipper of the Clouds'' (1886),^(Cresswell 2021) and the first real helicopter did not appear until the 1920s;^(Cresswell 2021) Etymonline says the word was transferred to helicopters in the modern sense by 1918.^(Etymonline) The verb, to fly by helicopter, is from 1923 in the OED.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1861 – the French word in English.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1886 – in Jules Verne.^(Cresswell 2021)

+ * 1918 – the modern aircraft.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1923 – the verb.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An [[aircraft]] lifted by blades that rotate about a roughly vertical axis, able to [[hover]] and fly in any direction.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To travel or carry by helicopter.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[copter]]

+ * [[heliport]]

+ * [[helo]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[helix]]

+ * [[helical]]

+ * [[pterodactyl]]

+ * [[feather]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}