An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

In fluid mechanics, the component of aerodynamical force which is perpendicular to the oncoming flow direction. In aeronautics, the perpendicular component of the force of the air against an airplane; the component that is effective in supporting the plane’s weight. → drag; → thrust.

Etymology (EN): M.E. liften, from O.N. lypta “to raise;” cf. M.L.G. lüchten, Du. lichten, Ger. lüften “to lift;” O.E. lyft “heaven, air.”

Etymology (PE): Bâlâbar “lift,” from bâlâ “up, above, high, elevated, height” (variants boland “high,” borz “height, magnitude” (it occurs also in the name of the mountain chain Alborz),
Lori dialect berg “hill, mountain;” Mid.Pers. buland “high;” O.Pers. baršan- “height;” Av. barəz- “high, mount,” barezan- “height;” cf. Skt. bhrant- “high;” L. fortis “strong” (Fr. & E. force); O.E. burg, burh “castle, fortified place,” from P.Gmc. *burgs “fortress;” Ger. Burg “castle,” Goth. baurgs “city,” E. burg, borough, Fr. bourgeois, bourgeoisie, faubourg); PIE base *bhergh- “high”) + bar present stem of bordan “to carry, transport” (Mid.Pers. burdan;
O.Pers./Av. bar- “to bear, carry,” barəθre “to bear (infinitive);” Skt. bharati “he carries;” Gk. pherein “to carry;” PIE base *bher- “to carry”).