ballonet

[ bal-uh-ney ]

noun
  1. an air or gasbag compartment in a balloon or airship, used to control buoyancy and maintain shape.

Origin of ballonet

1
From French, dating back to 1900–05; see origin at balloon, -et

Words Nearby ballonet

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

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.

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

British Dictionary definitions for ballonet

ballonet

/ (ˌbæləˈnɛt) /


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

Origin of ballonet

1
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