An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

A smooth, highly polished surface, for reflecting light, that may be plane or curved. The actual reflecting surface is usually a thin coating of silver or aluminum on glass.

Etymology (EN): From O.Fr. mireor “a reflecting glass,” earlier miradoir, from mirer “look at,” from V.L. *mirare, from L. mirari “to wonder at, admire.”

Etymology (PE): Âyene, from Mid.Pers. êwênag “mirror,” from *âdênak, cf. Khotanese âyäna- “mirror,” from Proto-Iranian *ādayana-, from prefix ā- + the root of Av. dā(y)- “to see,” didāti “sees” (cf. Mod.Pers. didan “to see,” Mid.Pers. ditan “to see, regard, catch sight of, contemplate, experience;” O.Pers. dī- “to see;” Skt. dhī- “to perceive, think, ponder; thought, reflection, meditation,” dādhye; Gk. dedorka “have seen”) + suffix -ak.