An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

The ratio of the distance covered to the time taken by a moving body. Speed in a specified direction is → velocity.

Etymology (EN): M.E. spede “good luck, prosperity, rapidity;”
O.E. sped “success, prosperity, advancement;”
cf. O.S. spod “success,” Du. spoed “haste, speed,” O.H.G. spuot “success,” O.H.G. spuoten “to haste;” from PIE base *spe- “to thrive, prosper” (cf. Skt. sphā- “to increase, become fat;” L. sperare “to hope;” O.C.S. spechu “endeavor;” Lith. speju “to have leisure”).

Etymology (PE): Tondi “speed,” from tond “swift, rapid, brisk; fierce, severe” (Mid.Pers. tund “sharp, violent;” Sogdian tund “violent;” cf. Skt. tod- “to thrust, give a push,” tudáti “he thrusts;” L. tundere “to thrust, to hit” (Fr. percer, E. pierce, ultimately from L. pertusus, from p.p. of pertundere “to thrust or bore through;”
PIE base *(s)teud- “to thrust, to beat”) + noun suffix -i.