An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

A collision between two bodies. In the case of solar system objects,
when one is much smaller than the other (like a meteoroid colliding with the Earth), a crater may be produced on the larger body.

Etymology (EN): From L. impactus, p.p. of impingere “to drive into, strike against,” from → in- “in” + pangere “to fix, fasten.”

Etymology (PE): Barxord, verbal noun of barxordan “to collide, clash, dash against each other,” from bar- “on, upon, up” (Mid.Pers. abar; O.Pers. upariy “above; over, upon, according to;” Av. upairi “above, over,” upairi.zəma- “located above the earth;” cf. Gk. hyper- “over, above;” L. super-; O.H.G. ubir “over;” PIE base *uper “over”)

• xordan “to hit, strike,” originally “to eat, drink, devour,” and by extension “to destroy,” from Mid.Pers. xvardan “to eat, enjoy (food),” Av. x^var- “to consume, eat;” Laki dialect hovârden “to eat;” Proto-Iranian *huar- “to consume, eat.”