Bellows
/ˈbɛloʊz/noun
A device that blows a strong current of air, or the plural form of an old word for a lung-like breathing organ.
Did you know?The English word *bellows* is historically plural in form, and its older sense is connected to a lung-like organ—so the tool’s name comes from the same deep idea as breathing air into life.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*bhel-
“to blow, swell, or inflate”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*blæ̂- / *blæzaną
“to blow”
Old English
OE
belg
“bag, bladder, bellows; also a swollen body part”
Middle English
ME
belles / bellows
“bellows; a device for forcing air”
Modern English
English
bellows
“a device for blowing air, especially into a fire”