English
helicline
Helicline comes from Ancient Greek ἕλιξ ‘spiral’.
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEἕλιξhélix‘spiral’
- Englishearliest quotation 1937helicline
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Earlier history uncertain.
Lineage
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEἕλιξhélix‘spiral’
- Englishearliest quotation 1937helicline
Earliest quotation: 1937, Fair Designers Make Theme Building Plans: “A bridge will link the sphere to the tower,…”
The story
Attested from the 1930s (see quotations below).
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *welH- ‘to turn’
well, walk, wall, volume, revolution, evolution, valve, involve, vault, evolve, revolt, vulgar, waltz, convoluted, divulge, vagrant, vulva, voluminous, wale, convolution, vulgate, gauche, voluble, valvular, involution, valise, 75 more
through Ancient Greek εἰλέω ‘to turn, wind’
through Ancient Greek ἕλιξ ‘spiral’
Today it means
noun A curving or spiral-shaped ramp; (especially) the ramp at the 1939 New York World's Fair Theme Center.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Ancient Greek ἕλιξ / helicline