'aviatress' originates from English, formed from the base 'aviator' plus the feminine suffix '-ess' (from French '-esse'); 'aviator' itself comes ultimately from Latin elements related to 'avis' meaning 'bird'.

'aviatress' was formed in English in the late 19th to early 20th century as a feminine counterpart to 'aviator'; 'aviator' derives from Latin roots (via modern Latin/French/English development) and earlier notions of 'bird' and flying.

Initially used simply as the feminine form meaning 'a woman who flies an aircraft'; over time the term became dated and is largely replaced by gender-neutral terms like 'pilot' or 'female aviator'.