An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

1. The shortest distance between two points in space (or → space-time). A geodesic on a sphere is an → arc of a → great circle. In the theory of → general relativity, freely falling bodies follow geodesic paths in space-time.
   

2. → geodetic.

Etymology (EN): From Fr. géodésique, → geodesy; → -ic.

Etymology (PE): Kehinrah “shortest path,” from kehin, superlative of keh “small, little, slender” (related to kâstan, kâhidan “to decrease, lessen, diminish,” from Mid.Pers. kâhitan, kâstan, kâhênitan “to decrease, diminish, lessen;” Av. kasu- “small, little;” Proto-Iranian *kas- “to be small, diminish, lessen”)

• râh “path, way, road” (from Mid.Pers. râh, râs “way, street,” also rah, ras “chariot;” from Proto-Iranian *rāθa-; cf. Av. raθa- “chariot;” Skt. rátha- “car, chariot,” rathyā- “road;” L. rota “wheel,” rotare “to revolve, roll;” Lith. ratas “wheel;” O.H.G. rad; Ger. Rad; Du. rad;
  O.Ir. roth; PIE base *roto- “to run, to turn, to roll”).