barrel roll

¹

noun

Aeronautics.

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

barrel-roll

²

[bar-uhl-rohl]

verb (used without object)

Aeronautics.

1. to perform a barrel roll.

barrel roll

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

verb

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of barrel roll¹

First recorded in 1930–35

Origin of barrel roll²

First recorded in 1925–30

When To Use

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.