satellite

Where does the word "satellite" come from? It comes from Latin satelles, and was adopted directly into English (1600s).

Satellite’s story begins in Latin: satelles meant “an attendant, a bodyguard.” An attendant or bodyguard accompanying an important person. It reached English by 1600s as satellite. Applied by astronomers to a body orbiting a planet, later an artificial orbiting device. Today, satellite means a natural or artificial body orbiting a planet or star.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient satelles "an attendant, a bodyguard", an attendant or bodyguard accompanying an important person.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1600s satellite "a body orbiting a larger one", applied by astronomers to a body orbiting a planet, later an artificial orbiting device.