An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

1a) An act or instance of diving.

1b) A jump or plunge into water, especially in a prescribed way from a diving board.

2a) To go below the surface of the water, as a submarine.

2b) To → plunge into water, especially headfirst.

2c) Aeronautics: (of an airplane) to descend rapidly (Dictionary.com).

Etymology (EN): M.E. diven “to dive, dip,” O.E. dufan (strong verb) “to dive, duck, sink” and dyfan “to dip, submerge” (weak, transitive), related to → deep.

Etymology (PE): Quté is possibly Pers., since Farhang-e Asadai records it with “t” and not Ar. “tayn” (Dehxoda), although its etymology is not established. We propose ultimately from Proto-Ir. *ui-pat-, from *pat- “to fall, to fly,” to which is related Pers. oft-, oftâdan “to → fall;” cf. Pashto. qupah “a dip, a dive, a plunge.”