ballonet

[ bal-uh-ney ]

/ ˌbæl əˈneɪ /

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noun

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

Words nearby ballonet

ballocks, ball of fire, ball of wax, ballon, ballon d'essai, ballonet, ballonné, balloon, balloon angioplasty, balloon barrage, balloon-berry

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use ballonet in a sentence

A smaller balloon, or steering ballonet, as it is called, is attached to the stern of the kite balloon and acts as a rudder.
The Romance of Aircraft|Lawrence Yard Smith
This resistance was increased by the rush of air into the open mouth of the steering ballonet.
The Romance of Aircraft|Lawrence Yard Smith
It had an internal air-bag or ballonet whose capacity was one-fifth that of the envelope.
The Romance of Aircraft|Lawrence Yard Smith
There are two noteworthy innovations in connection with the ballonet.
Jane's All the World's Aircraft|Various

Special features is a "belly" of Para rubber in lieu of a ballonet.
Jane's All the World's Aircraft|Various

British Dictionary definitions for ballonet

ballonet

/ (ˌbæləˈnɛt) /

noun

an air or gas compartment in a balloon or nonrigid airship, used to control buoyancy and shape

Word Origin for ballonet

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