empennage

noun

em·​pen·​nage ˌäm-pə-ˈnäzh How to pronounce empennage (audio)
ˌem-
: the tail assembly of an aircraft

Examples of empennage in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Propulsion is courtesy of a pair of electric nacelles set on the V-tail empennage, with low-tip-speed propellers powered by an internal combustion engine turning a generator that feeds a battery. New Atlas, 13 Feb. 2025 The fuselage, empennage, and landing gear are built in Israel, and then the aircraft moved to the U.S. for interior finishing and exterior painting. Daniel Cote, Robb Report, 27 Jan. 2025 This meant that guides had to be added to the empennage to prevent damage to the vertical and horizontal tail surfaces. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Oct. 2022

Word History

Etymology

French, feathers of an arrow, empennage, from empenner to feather an arrow, from em- en- entry 1 + penne feather, from Middle French — more at pen

First Known Use

1908, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of empennage was in 1908

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Empennage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/empennage. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

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