An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics
English-French-Persian

1) Of, relating to, or being the sex that typically has the capacity to bear offsprings or produce eggs. 2) A female person, animal, or plant.

M.E., alteration of femel, femelle, from O.Fr. femelle "woman, female," from M.L. femella "a female," from L. femella "young female, girl," diminutive of femina "woman, a female," → feminine.

Mâdé "female," from Mid.Pers. mâdag, "female," from mâd, → mother.

1) Belonging to the sex that typically has the capacity to produce gametes, especially spermatozoa which fertilize the eggs of a female.
2) A person, plant, or animal capable of fertilizing.

M.E. male, from O.Fr. malle, masle, from L. masculus "masculine, a male," → maculine.

Nar "male," from Mid.Pers. nar, "male; manly;" Av. nar- "male, man," nairya- "male, manly;" cf. Skt nara- "male, man."