An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

The mixture of gases of which the earth’s atmosphere is composed. It is chiefly made up of Nitrogen (about 78%) and Oxygen (about 20%).

Etymology (EN): Air, from O.Fr. air, L. aer, Gk. aer, related to Gk. aura “breath, vapor;” PIE *wer- “to raise, lift.”

Etymology (PE): Havâ, from Ar., probably a loanword from Mid.Pers. vây “weather,” Av. vayah-, vaya- “weather, atmosphere,” from va- “to blow.” Cf. Skt. va-, Gk. aemi- “to blow;”
Av. vâta- “wind,” Skt. vata-,
L. ventus, Mod. Pers. bâd “wind.” PIE *we- “to blow”.