DEW line

American  

[doo, dyoo] / du, dju /

noun

1. a 3,000-mile (4,800-km) long network of radar stations north of the Arctic Circle, maintained by the United States and Canada for providing advance warning of the approach of hostile planes, missiles, etc.

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DEW line British  

/ djuː /

acronym

1. distant early warning line, a network of radar stations situated mainly in Arctic regions to give early warning of aircraft or missile attack on North America

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Etymology

Origin of DEW line

First recorded in 1955–60; D(istant) E(arly) W(arning)

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

DEW line

Just supplying the DEW line takes $14 million a year, involves 45,000 tons of cargo, shipped by air, tankers, LSTs and barges.

From Time Magazine Archive

California, in its customary DEW line position on U.S. trends, led the way in the past decade's educational pandering to student enthusiasms and taxpayers' tight pockets.

From Time Magazine Archive

Built in the 1950s, the DEW line radars are now virtual museum pieces.

From Time Magazine Archive

U.S. scientists described the aerial mapping techniques that were used with great success to pick relatively solid sites for DEW line stations.

From Time Magazine Archive

On Thursday morning all broadcasts broke off to report that the DEW line of radars across Canada had reported objects in the air moving across the North Pole toward the United States.

From Long Ago, Far Away by Murray Leinster

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