An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

A traveling → waveform consisting of the → superposition of several → waves of different → wavelengths and → phases.

Etymology (EN): → wave; packet from M.E. pak “bundle” + diminutive suffix -et; maybe from M.Fr. pacquet.

Etymology (PE): Basté “packet,” literally “bound, tied; set,” p.p. of bastan “to form, bind, tie” (Mid.Pers. bastan/vastan “to bind, shut;” Av./O.Pers. band- “to bind, fetter,” banda- “band, tie;” cf. Skt. bandh- “to bind, tie, fasten;” Ger. binden; E. bind; PIE base *bhendh- “to bind”).