Foreplane

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A flat area positioned ahead of a principal structure serves to optimize both functionality and visual design
2. This term identifies an initial planar feature placed before an object to boost aesthetic and aerodynamic qualities
3. A flat, horizontal surface located in front of a primary structure enhances both the performance and visual appeal of the design

Etymology: The word is a plain compound: "fore," meaning "front" or "forward," joined to "plane," the Old French-derived word for a flat or level surface. Taken together, a foreplane is a flat surface placed at the front of something, and in aviation it names the small forward wing, set ahead of the main wing. This is the sense used of aircraft, where a horizontal surface mounted at the nose can help control pitch and stability. The "plane" part carries the flatness of the image. It comes from Latin "planus," meaning level or flat, which reached English through French. In aeronautics the word took on the wing-like sense of a broad, flat airfoil, so a foreplane is best pictured as a little wing sitting in front of the aircraft rather than behind it.