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• snap roll
  snap roll

  noun

  a maneuver in which an airplane makes a rapid and complete revolution about its longitudinal axis while maintaining approximately level flight.
• snap-roll
  snap-roll

  verb (used with object)

  to put (an airplane) through the maneuver of a snap roll.

snap roll

¹ American  

noun

Aeronautics.

1. a maneuver in which an airplane makes a rapid and complete revolution about its longitudinal axis while maintaining approximately level flight.

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snap-roll ² American  

[snap-rohl] / ˈsnæpˌroʊl /

verb (used with object)

1. to put (an airplane) through the maneuver of a snap roll.

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verb (used without object)

1. to execute a snap roll.

snap roll British  

noun

1. a manoeuvre in which an aircraft makes a fast roll

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Etymology

Origin of snap roll¹

First recorded in 1930–35

Origin of snap-roll²

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

snap roll snap-roll

Crocodiles snap, roll, shake, and wrench to tear larger meals into manageable chunks.

From Scientific American ● Jul. 15, 2017

A loop, another loop, a snap roll, a series of slow rolls, an Immelman.

From Time Magazine Archive

The good greying admiral never could have done a "snap roll" tied to another plane's wing.

From Time Magazine Archive

He gave us three loops and a snap roll.

From "A Long Way from Chicago" by Richard Peck

As I pulled up this time I kicked the ship into a double snap roll as I climbed.

From Test Pilot by Collins, Jimmy

Can-Am calls the system Dynamic Power Steering, the goal of which, I assume, is to lower steering response at higher speeds lest riders snap-roll into the clover.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2015

Then Bunny nails her in the ear with a slushball and she dives into a flawless snap-roll, scooping snow on the way for a counterstrike.

From Shadow of the Mothaship by Doctorow, Cory