drogue
noun
ˈdrōg 
1
: sea anchor
2
a
: a cylindrical or funnel-shaped device towed as a target by an airplane
b
: a small parachute for stabilizing or decelerating something (such as an astronaut's capsule) or for pulling a larger parachute out of stowage
3
: a funnel-shaped device which is attached to the end of a long flexible hose suspended from a tanker airplane in flight and into which the probe of another airplane is fitted so as to receive fuel from the tanker
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web As the rocket descended beneath its main parachute at about 10 meters per second, a drogue chute trailed behind with a 50-meter line. 
Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 6 May 2022 The cable successfully caught a line hanging from a smaller drogue chute and Rocket Lab’s mission control center erupted with cheers. Rob Pegoraro, PCMAG, 3 May 2022 Small drogue parachutes will then stabilize the capsule before four main parachutes unfurl at an altitude of about 6,000 feet. William Harwood, CBS News, 1 Aug. 2020 The hose extended from the drone, and the Super Hornet connected with the drogue at the end of the hose to receive the fuel. Alex Sundby, CBS News, 9 June 2021 The Super Hornet moved up to a position behind the drone and then plugged its refueling probe into the drogue, beginning the refueling process. Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 8 June 2021 In high speed ejection conditions additional stabilization is provided by a drogue parachute. Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 24 Mar. 2021 So the company came up with a plan that would see the rocket reorient with some maneuvering engines before plunging into the atmosphere, slowed by a small drogue parachute. John Timmer, Ars Technica, 20 Nov. 2020 SpaceX also improved part of the capsule’s barometric pressure sensor to give more accurate measurements to help determine when to deploy the spacecraft’s drogue parachutes, which help slow it for splashdown. Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 15 Nov. 2020 See More
Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 6 May 2022 The cable successfully caught a line hanging from a smaller drogue chute and Rocket Lab’s mission control center erupted with cheers. Rob Pegoraro, PCMAG, 3 May 2022 Small drogue parachutes will then stabilize the capsule before four main parachutes unfurl at an altitude of about 6,000 feet. William Harwood, CBS News, 1 Aug. 2020 The hose extended from the drone, and the Super Hornet connected with the drogue at the end of the hose to receive the fuel. Alex Sundby, CBS News, 9 June 2021 The Super Hornet moved up to a position behind the drone and then plugged its refueling probe into the drogue, beginning the refueling process. Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 8 June 2021 In high speed ejection conditions additional stabilization is provided by a drogue parachute. Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 24 Mar. 2021 So the company came up with a plan that would see the rocket reorient with some maneuvering engines before plunging into the atmosphere, slowed by a small drogue parachute. John Timmer, Ars Technica, 20 Nov. 2020 SpaceX also improved part of the capsule’s barometric pressure sensor to give more accurate measurements to help determine when to deploy the spacecraft’s drogue parachutes, which help slow it for splashdown. Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 15 Nov. 2020 See More Word History
Etymology
probably alteration of drag entry 1
First Known Use
1875, in the meaning defined at sense 1