Main Entry:

¹he·li·cop·ter

Pronunciation:

\ˈhe-lə-ˌkäp-tər, ˈhē-\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

French hélicoptère, from Greek heliko- + pteron wing — more at feather

Date:

1887

: an aircraft whose lift is derived from the aerodynamic forces acting on one or more powered rotors turning about substantially vertical axes