headphone
Meaning
a device with a part to cover each ear through which you can listen to music, radio broadcasts, etc. without other people hearing
Structure
Usage
she put on her headphones to listen to the new album.
noise-cancelling headphones are essential for working in a busy office.
the headphones were connected wirelessly to his phone.
Etymology
the word 'headphone' is a modern compound formed from two ancient roots. the first element, 'head', originates from the old english 'hēafod', a common germanic term for the upper part of the body, which has retained its core meaning. the second element, 'phone', derives from the greek 'phōnē', meaning 'sound' or 'voice', which entered english via latin and french, appearing in many scientific and technical terms. the compound logically describes a sound device worn on the head, a straightforward descriptive formation that emerged with the advent of personal audio technology in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Analysis
head (old english, meaning 'the upper part of the body'); phone (greek, via french, meaning 'sound, voice')