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

A speech sound that is produced as a stream of air that is not obstructed or blocked in any way by the vocal organs, but only modulated by the position of the tongue, lips, etc.

M.E., from O.Fr. vouel, from L. vocalis shortening of littera vocalis, literally "vocal letter," from  → vox "voice," cognate with Pers. âvâ, → phone, vâžé, → word.

Xodâvâ, literally "self-voice," as Ger. Selbstlaut, from xod-, → self-, + âvâ, → phone.