propeller
UK: prəˈpelə | US: prəˈpelər
n. a mechanical device with rotating blades that creates thrust to propel a vehicle (e.g., aircraft, ship)
n. a person or thing that propels or drives something forward
propeller = propel<drive forward> + er<agent noun suffix>
- propel (from Latin propellere, "to drive forward," from pro- "forward" + pellere "to drive, push")
- er (agentive suffix indicating "one who does or performs an action")
Etymology Origin:
The word propeller emerged in the early 18th century, derived from the verb propel, which traces back to Latin propellere. The suffix -er was added to denote a device or person that performs the action of propelling. The term gained prominence with the advent of steam-powered ships and later aircraft, where rotating blades were used to generate thrust. The logic is straightforward: propel (push forward) + -er (thing that does so) = propeller.
The boat's propeller broke after hitting a submerged rock.
Modern aircraft use advanced composite materials for their propellers.
The engineer designed a more efficient propeller for the submarine.
A damaged propeller can severely reduce a ship's speed.
The drone's quiet propeller makes it ideal for surveillance missions.