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

There was only time for Hodgkiss to see that all chutes were hooked to the static line.

From Time Magazine Archive

He looked at the other men, shuffling into position, checking the cords that connected them to the static line.

From "Stormbreaker" by Anthony Horowitz