balloonist

noun

Etymology: Etymology tree English balloon Proto-Indo-European *-id- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti Proto-Hellenic *-íďďō Ancient Greek -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō) Proto-Hellenic *-tās Ancient Greek -τής (-tḗs) Ancient Greek -ῐστής (-ĭstḗs)bor. Latin -istader. Old French -istebor. Middle English -ist English -ist English balloonist From balloon + -ist.

1. A person who flies in balloons, especially in hot-air balloons.

   “But his greatest achievement, the balloonist said, was a flight he made in Australia in November 1984, using the prototype of the balloon in which he intends to circle the world.”

   “Like surfers trying to catch a wave, balloonists try to ride jet streams.”