rip cord

noun

1

: a cord by which the gasbag of a balloon may be ripped open for a limited distance to release the gas quickly and so cause immediate descent

2

: a cord or wire pulled in making a descent to release a parachute out of its container

Examples of rip cord in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Looking at its competitors, Disney's media properties appear on the upswing after several years of pain, and Paramount Global has pulled the rip cord and agreed to a merger with Skydance Media. —Alex Sherman, CNBC, 8 Aug. 2024

Market conditions may compel Redstone to pull the rip cord on an M&A solution sooner rather than later. —Todd Spangler, Variety, 27 Mar. 2024

Before pulling the rip cord, Alabama allowed access for one to two practice periods during individual drills. —Michael Casagrande | [e-mail], al, 22 Aug. 2023

If the number finally comes in, will Arizona pull the rip cord if brass aren't satisfied? —Jeremy Cluff, The Arizona Republic, 2 Aug. 2023

In late May, Sarah Lynch pulled the rip cord. —oregonlive, 16 June 2021

This one from Forest Safety is equipped with a rip cord that allows the cutter to access the kit’s tourniquet with one pull. —Roy Berendsohn, Popular Mechanics, 18 Jan. 2023

Has all the trappings of looking for a rip cord to pull. —Rob Wile, NBC News, 13 May 2022

Robison displayed the reserve and main chutes, a rip cord and an automatic activation device, which would deploy a reserve parachute if a skydiver needed it. —Vincent T. Davis, San Antonio Express-News, 22 Apr. 2021

Word History

First Known Use

1886, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

rip cord

noun

: a cord or wire pulled by a parachute jumper to release a parachute out of its container