* "para": Meaning "beside" or "near"
* "chute": Meaning "to fall" or "to drop"
Therefore, "parachute" literally translates to "beside falling" or "near falling." This aptly describes the device's function, as it allows a person to descend safely from a height by falling slowly and gently.
The word was first coined by French inventor Louis-Sébastien Lenormand in 1785, who created the first documented parachute and used it for a demonstration jump.
It's interesting to note that although Lenormand is credited with the term, the concept of using a canopy to slow descent likely existed long before him. However, his demonstration and naming of the device solidified its place in history.