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• barrel roll
  barrel roll

  noun

  a maneuver in which an airplane executes a complete roll by revolving once around its longitudinal axis.
• barrel-roll
  barrel-roll

  verb (used without object)

  to perform a barrel roll.

barrel roll

¹ American  

noun

Aeronautics.

1. a maneuver in which an airplane executes a complete roll by revolving once around its longitudinal axis.

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barrel-roll ² American  

[bar-uhl-rohl] / ˈbær əlˌroʊl /

verb (used without object)

Aeronautics.

1. to perform a barrel roll.

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barrel roll British  

noun

1. a flight manoeuvre in which an aircraft rolls about its longitudinal axis while following a spiral course in line with the direction of flight

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verb

1. (intr) (of an aircraft) to perform a barrel roll

Usage

What does barrel roll mean? A barrel roll is an aviation maneuver in which an aircraft rolls over while also flying in a spiral or corkscrew route. The term can also be used as a verb (typically spelled barrel-roll) meaning to perform this maneuver. A barrel roll is typically only done by fighter jets and stunt planes. Some helicopters are capable of barrel roles, but this is rarer. A barrel roll should not be confused with an aileron roll, in which an aircraft performs a side-to-side roll by turning upside down and then right-side up again in a single rolling motion (without flying in a corkscrew formation). However, most laypeople simply call this a barrel roll. Example: The best part of the air show was seeing that huge plane do a barrel roll.

Etymology

Origin of barrel roll¹

First recorded in 1930–35

Origin of barrel-roll²

First recorded in 1925–30