An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

1. Navigation:→ dip.
   
2. Meteorology: An area of low atmospheric pressure.
   
3. Geology: An area of the Earth’s crust sunken or depressed below the surrounding area, formed by various mechanisms.

Etymology (EN): Depression, verbal noun of depress, from O.Fr. depresser, from L.L. depressare, frequentative of pressus, p.p. of deprimere “press down,” from → de- “down” + premere “to press.”

Etymology (PE): 1) Našib-e ofoq, from našib “declivity, descent; lowness of ground, slope of any place” (Mid.Pers. nišēp “declivity, (astrology) dejection,” Av. *nixšvaēpā-, xšvaēpā- “bottom, rear”)

• ofoq→ horizon. 2) Forubâr, from foru “down, downward; below; beneath,” → de-
• bâr “load, pressure, charge,” → charge. 3) Našiblâx, from našib, as above, in item 1, + -lâx place suffix.