View synonyms for empennage

empennage

[ ahm-puh-nahzh, em-; French ahn-pe-nazh ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

, plural em·pen·nag·es [ahm-p, uh, -, nah, -zhiz, em-, ah, n, -pe-, nazh].

the rear part of an airplane or airship, usually comprising the stabilizer, elevator, vertical fin, and rudder.

empennage

/ ɛmˈpɛnɪdʒ; ɑ̃pɛnaʒ /

noun

the rear part of an aircraft, comprising the fin, rudder, and tailplane

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Word History and Origins

Origin of empennage¹

1905–10; < French: literally, feathering, equivalent to empenn ( er ) to feather an arrow ( em- em- ¹ + -penner, derivative of penne feather; pen ¹ ) + -age -age

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Word History and Origins

Origin of empennage¹

C20: from French: feathering, from empenner to feather an arrow, from penne feather, from Latin pinna

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Example Sentences

The loose end of his leggin was caught in the wires of the empennage.

From Project Gutenberg

Bill gave him a lift and Breene was soon sitting on the empennage almost entirely out of the water.

From Project Gutenberg

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