chairborne

American  

[chair-bawrn, -bohrn] / ˈtʃɛərˌbɔrn, -ˌboʊrn /

adjective

1. (of military, especially Air Force, personnel) having a desk job rather than a field or combat assignment.

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chairborne British  

/ ˈtʃɛəˌbɔːn /

adjective

1. informal having an administrative or desk job rather than a more active one

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Etymology

Origin of chairborne

1940–45; blend of chair and airborne

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

chairborne

General Lionel McGarr, who many critics think was too chairborne and conventional-minded to deal with the hit-and-run tactics of the Communist Viet Cong insurgents.

From Time Magazine Archive

Instead of trying to correct the deficiencies that show up in the prototypes, British aircraft "boffins," i.e., chairborne scientists, try to cover up to save costly redesigning.

From Time Magazine Archive

Barrientos sleeps only four hours a night, starts work at 7 a.m. and is incapable of being chairborne for very long.

From Time Magazine Archive

Civilian Conservation Corps; from there he went into an infantry regiment, where he became a chairborne corporal.

From Time Magazine Archive

What did that chairborne brass hat know about space cafard?

From Medal of Honor by Bernklau