parafoil

American  

[par-uh-foil] / ˈpær əˌfɔɪl /

noun

1. a structure, usually made of a strong yet light fabric, having a shape similar to that of an airplane wing, and used as a kite or a parachute.

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parafoil British  

/ ˈpærəˌfɔɪl /

noun

1. a nonrigid aerofoil inflated by the wind, used in kites and paragliders

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Etymology

Origin of parafoil

para- ³ + (air)foil

Example Sentences

Musk announced on Twitter that the parafoil deployment occurred.

From Scientific American • Feb. 22, 2018

"Made it back from space and fairing parafoil just deployed," Musk wrote on Twitter.

From Scientific American • Feb. 22, 2018

After the fairing separated from the Falcon 9's second stage, it fell back to Earth and deployed a parafoil to slow its fall to the Pacific Ocean.

From Scientific American • Feb. 22, 2018

When they reach the falling probe, they will use a 20-ft. catch pole with a latching hook on the end to snag the parafoil.

From Time Magazine Archive

Helicopter crew members--wearing Kevlar gloves to protect against the heat generated by the capsule's re-entry--will remove the cable, parafoil and hook, and attach the spacecraft to the helicopter by a shorter line.

From Time Magazine Archive