1
Stage 1 of 3
helix
Greek · ancient
"spiral"
spiral, combined with pteron (wing) for a spiral-winged aircraft
2
Stage 2 of 3
helicoptere
French · 1860s
"a spiral-wing flying machine"
coined by French inventor Gustave de Ponton d'Amecourt for his spiral-wing design
3
Stage 3 of 3
helicopter
English · 1900s
"a rotor-driven aircraft"
settled as the word for the rotor-driven aircraft
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