Helipad
/ˈhɛl.i.pæd/noun
A landing area for helicopters.
Did you know?Helipad is a 20th-century clipped compound, and unlike ancient “dark” words such as nightmare or disaster, its power comes from aviation-era engineering rather than old folklore.
Etymological Timeline
1907
French
hélicoptère
“A flying machine with rotating wings”
1940s
English
helicopter
“A rotorcraft capable of vertical takeoff and landing”
Old English
English
pad
“A soft cushion or a flat surface”
1950s
English
helipad
“A landing place for helicopters”
Explore more surprising origins