An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

A meteorite that was not seen to fall, but was found at some later date, as opposed to a → fall.

Etymology (EN): O.E. findan “to come upon,” from P.Gmc. *finthanan (cf. M.Du. vinden, Ger. finden), from PIE *pent- “to go, pass, path, bridge;” cf. Av. paθ-, variants paθi-, paθā-, pantay-; Mid/Mod.Pers. pand “path, advice, councel;” Khotanese pande “road, path;” Ossetic fœndœg “path, road;” cf. Skt. pánthā- “road, path, course;” Gk. patos “path, way,” pontos “sea;” L. pons “bridge, path.”

Etymology (PE): Yâft, past stem of yâftan, yâbidan “to find, discover; to obtain, acquire;” Mid.Pers. ayâftan, ayâpênitan “to reach, attain;” Manichean Mid.Pers. ‘y’b “to attain;” Parthian, Sogdian (+ *pati-) pty’b “to reach, obtain;” Av. ap- “to reach, overtake,” apayeiti “achieved, reached;” Skt. âp- “to reach, gain,”
âpnoti “reaches, gains;” Gk. hapto, haptomai “to touch, cling to, adhere to;” L. apiscor “touch, reach;” PIE base *ap- “to take, reach.”