释义 |
aeroplane, n.|ˈɛərəpleɪn, now rarely ˈeɪərəʊ-| [In sense 1, f. aero- + plane n.3; in sense 2, ad. F. aéroplane (1855), f. Gr. ἀερο- (see aero-) + F. plan plane (see plane v.2).] 1. A plane (or slightly curved) light framework or ‘surface’ forming part of a flying-machine, and serving to sustain it in the air. Obs. (Later called simply plane, also wing.)
1866Wenham in Ann. Rep. Aëronaut. Soc. 33 In the flying mechanism of beetles..when the ..wing-cases are opened, they are checked by a stop, which sets them at a fixed angle. It is probable that these serve as ‘aeroplanes’, for carrying the weight of the insect. Ibid. 37 A thin steel tie-band,..served as the foundation of the superposed aeroplanes. 1869in Eng. Mech. 4 June 241/3 The dynamometer and registering apparatus, to which the aeroplanes are to be attached. 1902F. Walker Aërial Navig. 117 Air-ships as combinations of aërostat, aëroplane, and propelling apparatus. 1905G. Bacon Balloons 111 What are called ‘aeroplanes’—large flat surfaces, light but rigid inclined at a suitable angle to the horizon. 2. †a. An airship provided with planes. Obs.
1884Pall Mall Gaz. 28 Aug. 4/1 As soon as the Aero-Plane has been seen floating to and fro over the city of San Francisco, steered at pleasure this way and that, and carrying a number of passengers. b. (The current sense.) A heavier-than-air flying-machine supported by such planes or wings and mechanically driven. The use in quot. 18731 appears to derive from sense 1 and to owe nothing to Fr. aéroplane (Stubelius Airship 239).
1873D. S. Brown in Ann. Rep. Aëronaut. Soc. 17, I think [impetus] will be more requisite with respect to the aëroplane than any other vehicle. Ibid. 20 Mr. Bennett introduced an Aëroplane invented by a Frenchman, to be worked by a screw by motive power derived from elastic springs. 1874Ibid. 65 Flight has thus been accomplished on three different principles, and the practicability of a flying-machine proved. M. Penaud..thinks the aëroplane to be the only practicable machine. 1892H. S. Maxim in Century Mag. Apr. 957/2 Ascertaining how much power was ..required to perform flight with a screw-driven aëroplane. 1897Langley Memoir Mech. Flight (1911) i. ii. 7 His [sc. A. Pénaud's] aeroplane is a toy in size, with a small propeller whose blades are usually made of two feathers..and whose motive power is a twisted strand of rubber. 1910R. Ferris How it Flies 453 Aeroplane, the type of flying machine which is supported in the air by a spread of surfaces or planes formerly flat and therefore truly ‘plane’ but of late more or less curved. 1920Blackw. Mag. July 74/1 The perfected aeroplane is the obvious instrument to suppress war. 1934Orville Wright Let. 10 Jan. in Papers W. & O. Wright (1953) II. 1162 The helicopter type of aeroplane offers several seemingly insurmountable difficulties. 1943[see aircraft]. 1951Oxf. Jun. Encycl. IV. 4/1 The power propelling the aeroplane may be of a number of types—the ordinary piston-engine (internal combustion) driving a propeller (air-screw), the gas-turbine driving a propeller, or the gas-turbine ‘pure jet’. ¶ In form indicating the once common dial. or vulg. but now obs. pronunc. |-iːəʊ|.
1876Pop. Sci. Monthly Feb. 454 The areoplanes have propelling surfaces which are nearly plane and slightly inclined to the horizon. 1915S. Lewis Trail of Hawk xxii. 203 It's a new areoplane (that's the way he pronounced it), and that dingus in front is a whirling motor. 1915Aeronautics 13 Oct. 256/2, I have never heard anyone pronounce aeroplane in any other way than ‘airoplane’, with perhaps an occasional ‘arioplane’ or even ‘hairyoplane’. 1935‘J. Guthrie’ Little Country xxix. 411 Half a dozen veterans of the forgotten Maori wars... What with these ‘aereoplanes’, war, like everything else, was not what it had been! 3. attrib. and Comb.
1872Ann. Rep. Aëronaut. Soc. 15 At an angle of ten degrees, about one man power would be sufficient to drive an aëroplane machine twenty miles an hour. 1896H. S. Maxim in Aeronaut. Ann., Nat. & Artif. Flight, The next machine..was on the kite or aeroplane system. 1902Aeronaut. World (U.S.) 1 Oct. 58/1 This bird-like aeroplane machine. 1914Lancet 4 July 55/1 A special aeroplane constructed to accommodate, besides the aviator, a medical man and also a covered litter on which the wounded man can be placed for transport... This aeroplane ambulance [etc.]. 1920Proc. Air Conference, London 96 Movement by sea is a slow business unless aeroplane carriers are available. 1923Kipling Irish Guards in Gt. War I. 50 ‘Aeroplane duty’ was another invention of those early days. A Company was told off daily to look out for aeroplanes. 1932H. Nicolson Public Faces xi. 301 She was an aeroplane carrier of His Majesty's Navy. 1958Spectator 10 Jan. 47/1 HQ Tank Corps arranged with the RFC to have daily aeroplane photographs taken of the front over which tanks would advance. Hence ˈaeroplane v. intr., to fly or glide like an aeroplane; to fly or travel in an aeroplane; aeroplaning vbl. n.; ˈaeroˌplanist, one who flies an aeroplane. Now rare.
1906Daily Mail 26 Nov. 7/5 The first successful aeroplanist in Great Britain will win..as much money as the Soap Trust has already lost. 1907Ibid. 19 Feb. 7/7 M. Santos Dumont..felt that for some years to come aeroplaning would remain a sport. 1907Jrnl. Soc. Arts 19 Apr. 603/1 A hawk never aeroplaned; he always balanced himself on his wings. 1911G. B. Shaw Blanco Posnet Pref. 367 Motoring has its risks; aeroplaning has its risks. 1912― Let. to G. Barker 1 May (1956) 182 We went to the aeroplanists' sheds again... Flying just about to begin as usual. 1914― Misalliance 46 Lina. I never drink tea. Tarleton. Bad thing to aeroplane on, I should imagine. 1927Observer 7 Aug. 3/4 We cannot ignore the fact that aeroplaning is beginning to progress as a pastime, chiefly because of traffic conditions on our roads. 1934Times Educ. Suppl. 17 Feb. 49/2 Model aeroplanists [wend their way] to Hampstead Heath. |