chandelle

noun

chan·delle shan-ˈdel

shäⁿ-

: an abrupt climbing turn of an airplane in which the momentum of the plane is used to attain a higher rate of climb

chandelle intransitive verb

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, candle

First Known Use

1918, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of chandelle was in 1918

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Chandelle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chandelle. Accessed 22 May. 2025.

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