Drogue

/droʊɡ/ noun

Definition

A funnel-shaped device towed behind an aircraft or ship to slow it down, or a small parachute used in skydiving.

Etymology

From the Danish/Norwegian 'drog' meaning 'something dragged,' ultimately from Old Norse 'drógr.' It entered English through nautical terminology.

Kelly Says

Drogues are clever engineering solutions—they create drag without the bulk of a full parachute, so they're used in air-to-air refueling to keep planes at safe distances while still connected. It's physics made visible!

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