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Where does the word "helicopter" come from? It comes from Greek helix, passing through French before entering English (1900s).
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Where does the word "helicopter" come from? It comes from Greek helix, passing through French before entering English (1900s).
Helicopter’s story begins in Greek: helix meant “spiral.” Spiral, combined with pteron (wing) for a spiral-winged aircraft. By 1860s, the word had taken hold in French as helicoptere. Coined by French inventor Gustave de Ponton d'Amecourt for his spiral-wing design. It reached English by 1900s as helicopter. Settled as the word for the rotor-driven aircraft. Today, helicopter means an aircraft lifted and propelled by horizontal rotors.
- Stage 1 · Greek · ancient helix "spiral", spiral, combined with pteron (wing) for a spiral-winged aircraft.
- Stage 2 · French · 1860s helicoptere "a spiral-wing flying machine", coined by French inventor Gustave de Ponton d'Amecourt for his spiral-wing design.
- Stage 3 · English · 1900s helicopter "a rotor-driven aircraft", settled as the word for the rotor-driven aircraft.