autogiro

American  

[aw-tuh-jahy-roh] / ˌɔ təˈdʒaɪ roʊ /

Or autogyro

noun

plural

autogiros

1. an aircraft with an unpowered, horizontally rotating propeller on a shaft above the fuselage that provides lift for the machine, with forward propulsion being provided by a conventional propeller: superseded in most applications by the helicopter.

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autogiro British  

/ ˌɔːtəʊˈdʒaɪrəʊ /

noun

1. Also called: gyroplane.  a self-propelled aircraft supported in flight mainly by unpowered rotating horizontal blades Compare helicopter

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Etymology

Origin of autogiro

First recorded in 1920–25; formerly a trademark

Example Sentences

Stuffed with sumo wrestling; trap doors; an autogiro equipped with flamethrowers and missiles; a piranha pool; and, of course, a rocket base hidden inside a volcano, “You Only Live Twice” wasn’t exactly an actor’s breakthrough.

From New York Times • Oct. 31, 2020

Another guest, Charles T. Otto, offered to fly him and a girl friend back across Lake Michigan's tip to Chicago in an autogiro.

From Time Magazine Archive

Engine failure by itself is not too serious, since a helicopter with a dead rotor acts like an autogiro and windmills down to earth.

From Time Magazine Archive

In fuselage, tail structure, landing gear and propelling motor the autogiro is a typical airplane.

From Time Magazine Archive

Two days later he took a flying examination, became the first U. S. Governor to get a license to pilot an autogiro.

From Time Magazine Archive

Related Words

• chopper