An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

A frequency distribution with negative → kurtosis, which has a smaller “peak” around the mean than the corresponding normal distribution. → leptokurtic.

Etymology (EN): From Gk. platys “flat”, → plate + → kurtosis.

Etymology (PE): Past-afrâšté, literally “lowly elevated,” from past “low; plain” (Mid.Pers. past; proto-Iranian *pasta- “fallen,” from *pat- “to fall,” cf. Av. pat- “to fall; to fly; to rush,” patarəta- “winged;” Mid.Pers. opastan “to fall,” patet “falls;” Mod.Pers. oftâdan “to fall,” oft “fall;” Skt. patati “he flies, falls,” pátra- “wing, feather, leaf;” Gk. piptein “to fall,” pterux “wing;” L. penna “feather, wing;” O.E. feðer “feather;” PIE base *pet- “to fly, rush”) + afrâšté “raised, elevated, erect,” p.p. of afrâštan, → kurtosis.