airbag
UK[ˈeəbæɡ]US[ˈerbæɡ]
n
a safety device in a vehicle that fills with air quickly in a collision to protect the driver or passenger from being thrown forward.
Morpheme Breakdown
air
bag
air
bag
Etymology
the word 'airbag' is a modern english compound, transparently formed from the two nouns 'air' and 'bag'. the first element, 'air', traces back through old french and latin to the greek 'āḗr', originally meaning the lower atmosphere or mist. the second element, 'bag', is of scandinavian origin, from old norse 'baggi', denoting a sack or pouch. the compound logically describes a bag designed to inflate with air, a concept that emerged in the mid-20th century with the development of automotive safety systems. its formation follows the common english pattern of combining two familiar, concrete nouns to create a new, specific term for a technological invention.
Analysis
Structure: air + bag
air: from old french 'air', latin 'āēr', greek 'āḗr' (air, atmosphere). functions as a noun root denoting the gaseous substance.
bag: from old norse 'baggi' (bag, pack, bundle). functions as a noun root denoting a flexible container.
Examples
the car's airbag deployed instantly upon impact.
modern vehicles are equipped with both driver and passenger side airbags.
he was saved from serious injury by the seatbelt and the airbag.