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

A plain curve obtained by slicing a cone with a plane parallel to one side of the cone. A parabola can be considered an ellipse with an infinite major axis. It is one of the types of conic sections.

N.L., from Gk. parabole "comparison, application," literally "a throwing beside," from → para- + bole "throwing," related to ballein "to throw."

Sahmi, of unknown origin.