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Social sciences → Etymology → Word origins, Q - Z → Word origins, R
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  • emilyw
    rocket: "projectile," 1611, from It. rocchetto "a rocket," lit. "a bobbin," dim. of rocca "a distaff," so called because of cylindrical shape. The It. word probably is from a Gmc. source (cf. O.H.G. rocko "distaff," O.N. rokkr), from P.Gmc. *rukka-, from PIE base *rug- "to spin." Originally "fireworks rocket," meaning "device propelled by a rocket engine" first recorded 1919; rocket-ship first attested 1927. The verb meaning "to spring like a rocket" is from 1883. (from http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=rocket&searchmode=none)
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