[a. Fr. aérostat, f. Gr. ἀερο-, see AERO-, + στατ-ός standing, f. vbl. root στα- stand.]
1. A balloon or other machine capable of supporting weight in the air. (The original name.)
1784. Europ. Mag., VI. Nov., 384/1. The first aerostat filled with inflammable air ascended from the Thuilleries on the 1st of December 1783.
1785. Cavallo, Aerost., I. v. 82. This paper aerostat rose rapidly into the atmosphere.
1865. Reader, 1 April, 375/3. Until the time shall arrive when an aerostat or flying machine can be introduced with something like success.
2. An aeronaut or balloonist. (Mod. Fr. probably after analogy of avocat, jurat, etc.)
1870. Daily News, 4 Oct., 5/6. M. Gabriel Magnin, the aërostat who brought from Paris the second balloon despatches. Ibid. (1871), 3 Jan., 6/1. Improvised aerostats who, with commendable courage, undertook a perilous task.
