sky marshal

noun

1. an armed plainclothes federal marshal riding on an airliner to protect against skyjacking.

sky marshal

noun

1. an armed security guard on a commercial aircraft

Word History and Origins

Origin of sky marshal¹

An Americanism dating back to 1965–70

Example Sentences

He helped develop the sky marshal program to counteract hijackers.

Read more on New York Times

He also helped develop the federal sky marshal program, his family said.

Read more on Washington Post