elevon

noun

el·​e·​von ˈe-lə-ˌvän How to pronounce elevon (audio)
: an airplane control surface that combines the functions of elevator and aileron

Examples of elevon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Another engineering leap came in the 1940s when the Northrop N-9M flying wing used a pitch trimmer with a split-drag rudder and an elevon (for both roll and pitch) so that all surfaces could be operated together or independently. Walter J. Boyne and Alex Hollings, Popular Mechanics, 23 May 2021 The APUs used toxic hydrazine to generate the hydraulic power needed to move the shuttle's elevons the muscle needed for braking and steering. William Harwood, CBS News, 6 Jan. 2018

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'elevon.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

elevator + aileron

First Known Use

1944, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of elevon was in 1944

Dictionary Entries Near elevon

Cite this Entry

“Elevon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elevon. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

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