Volplane

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /ˈvɒlpleɪn/

Definitions

1. To descend smoothly in the air while lacking engine thrust, managing to maintain a steady glide throughout the process
2. The controlled act of moving downward through the atmosphere in an aircraft, using only its aerodynamic capabilities to sustain flight
3. To perform a gradual descent through the air without power, skillfully utilizing the aircraft's lift and drag to glide effectively

Etymology: Volplane comes from French "vol plané", literally "gliding flight," and the French phrase is the whole story: "vol" is "flight," and "plané" is the past participle of "planer," meaning to glide or soar with outstretched wings. The French word "planer" is itself tied to "plane" in the sense of a flat surface, since the image is of a body held level and sliding through the air rather than flapping through it. English took the phrase almost whole and folded it into a single verb. The result keeps the original meaning intact: a pilot brings an aircraft down without engine power, trading height for distance, so the machine does the work its wings were designed for. The word is a loan from French, not a homegrown coinage, and its shape shows the borrowing plainly, with the French noun and participle fused into one English verb.

Synonyms: glide, descend