To transport people or goods by aircraft, especially in an emergency or when other routes are blocked.
Compound of 'air' (Old English 'ær') and 'lift' (from Old Norse 'lypta'). The word emerged during World War II when aircraft began being used for emergency supply missions.
The Berlin Airlift (1948-49) made this word famous—when Soviet forces blocked roads to West Berlin, American and British pilots flew 2.7 million tons of supplies in a single year! It was one of the most dramatic uses of aircraft ever, and the word 'airlift' was born from necessity.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.