An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

A first step in making a telescope mirror, which consists of rubbing the glass blank with hard tools (glass, tile, or metal) and abrasive grit to produce a concave form. → figuring; → polishing.

Etymology (EN): Grinding, verbal noun of grind, from O.E. grindan, forgrindan “destroy by crushing,” from P.Gmc. *grindanan (cf. Du. grenden), from PIE *ghrendh- “crushing” (cf. L. frendere “to crush, grind;” Gk. khondros “granule, groats”).

Etymology (PE): Sâbeš, verbal noun of sâbidan, variants sâyidan, pasâvidan “to touch” (Khotanese sauy- “to rub;” Sogdian ps’w- “to touch;” Proto-Iranian *sau- “to rub”).