static line

American  

noun

Military.

1. a line attached to a parachute pack and to a cable in an aircraft for the purpose of automatically opening the parachute after it is dropped.

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static line British  

noun

1. a line attaching the pack of a parachute to an aircraft, so that the parachute is opened when it has fallen clear of the aircraft

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Etymology

Origin of static line

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

“I always take my camera with me, and I learned how to ascend a static line to be able to shoot on the side of cliffs,” she said.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 5, 2023

I called him on a fuzzy static line with a strange echo in the background and told him our very wanted baby-boy-to-be didn't have a heartbeat anymore.

From Salon • Nov. 11, 2021

Aron, Danny, Christian, Simon and I were in a hotel room in LA watching this rough footage with a weird static line through it.

From The Guardian • Jan. 1, 2011

The Americans have so far demurred, arguing that the static line, as now envisioned, would not stop infiltration via normal traffic routes and, more important, would not cover the rocket belt.

From Time Magazine Archive

Mai Duff s Sherpas had anchored a static line of rope that extended from the bottom of the Icefall to its top.

From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer