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

Examples of drogue in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

At an altitude of about 24,500 feet, two small drogue parachutes unfurled, slowing and stabilizing the Starliner. —William Harwood, CBS News, 7 Sep. 2024

On decent, a pair of drogue chutes are deployed to slow the craft, followed by three main chutes. —Jennifer Borresen, USA TODAY, 5 June 2024

After crossing the panhandle of Florida, now flying at just a few hundred miles per hour, small drogue parachutes inflated to stabilize the spacecraft followed by the four main chutes. —William Harwood, CBS News, 12 Mar. 2024

At 9,000 feet, the other signal sent the command to actually release the drogue chute. —Stephen Clark, Ars Technica, 6 Dec. 2023

Word History

Etymology

probably alteration of drag entry 2

First Known Use

1875, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

drogue

noun

ˈdrōg 

: a parachute for slowing down or stabilizing something (as an astronaut's capsule) or for pulling out a larger parachute