'equator-near' is a compound word formed from 'equator' and 'near', where 'equator' refers to the imaginary line around the middle of the Earth, and 'near' means 'close to'.

The term 'equator' comes from the Latin word 'aequator', meaning 'equalizer', and 'near' is derived from the Old English 'neah', meaning 'close'.

Initially, 'equator' referred to the line dividing the Earth into equal halves, and 'near' meant proximity. Together, they describe proximity to this line.