Airship

/ˈɛrʃɪp/ noun

Definition

A large aircraft that stays aloft using gas-filled compartments (like a blimp or zeppelin) rather than wings.

Etymology

Compound of 'air' and 'ship,' created in the early 1900s as these dirigible aircraft were developed. It combines naval and aviation terminology.

Kelly Says

Airships were going to be the future of travel in the 1930s, carrying hundreds of passengers across oceans—until the Hindenburg disaster in 1937 made them seem too risky, so airplanes took over instead.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.