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ballonet

[bal-uh-ney]
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noun
  1. an air or gasbag compartment in a balloon or airship, used to control buoyancy and maintain shape.
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Origin of ballonet

From French, dating back to 1900–05; see origin at balloon, -et
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for ballonet

Historical Examples

  • The magneto was run by a belt from one of the ballonet blowers.

    The War in the Air; Vol. 1

    Walter Raleigh.

  • There are two noteworthy innovations in connection with the ballonet.

  • Special features is a "belly" of Para rubber in lieu of a ballonet.

  • The air pump, which should have pumped the ballonet full of air to keep the balloon rigid failed to work.

    Aircraft and Submarines

    Willis J. Abbot.

  • (p. 067) The balloon frame was divided into seventeen compartments, each of which held a ballonet filled with hydrogen gas.

    Aircraft and Submarines

    Willis J. Abbot.

British Dictionary definitions for ballonet

ballonet

noun
  1. an air or gas compartment in a balloon or nonrigid airship, used to control buoyancy and shape
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Word Origin

C20: from French ballonnet a little balloon
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012