An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

To drive, or cause to move, forward or onward.

Etymology (EN): From L. propellere “to push forward,” from → pro- “forward” + pellere “to push, drive.”

Etymology (PE): Pišrândan, from
piš “before; in front,” from Mid.Pers. pêš “before, earlier,” O.Pers. paišiya “before; in the presence of” + rândan “to push, drive, cause to go,”
causative of raftan “to go, walk, proceed” (present tense stem row-, Mid.Pers. raftan, raw-, Proto-Iranian *rab/f- “to go; to attack”).