Pyrotechnic
/ˌpaɪ.rəˈθɛk.nɪk/noun
Relating to fireworks or a display of fire, light, and explosive effects.
Did you know?Pyrotechnic comes through Greek *pyrotechnēs*, “one who works with fire,” from *pyr* (“fire”) and *tekhnē* (“art, skill, craft”), linking fireworks to the ancient concept of skilled, almost ritual fire-making.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*peh₂wr̥
“fire”
Ancient Greek
Greek
πῦρ (pyr)
“fire”
Ancient Greek
Greek
τεχνῑ́της (tekhnitēs)
“craftsman, artist, one skilled in an art”
Late Greek
Greek
πυροτεχνικός (pyrotechnikos)
“skilled in fire; relating to fire-working”
16th Century
French
pyrotechnique
“pertaining to fireworks or fire-working arts”
Modern English
English
pyrotechnic
“relating to fireworks or spectacular fire effects”
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