Etymology

Bézier curve

Today it means: A type of parametric curve defined by a set of control points, two of which are the ends of the curve, while the others determine its shape. Full definition →

First used 1960s.French courbe de Bézier
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The story

  1. French · calque ofcourbe de Bézier
  2. English todayBézier curve

Probably a calque of French courbe de Bézier. Named after Renault engineer Pierre Bézier who popularized the curves developed earlier by Paul de Casteljau and used them to design curves for the bodywork of cars.

First known use, by meaning

  • From 1960s. A type of parametric curve defined by a set of control points, two of which are the ends of the curve, while the others determine its shape.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.