hydroplane
pronunciation
How to pronounce hydroplane in British English:
UK [ˈhaɪdrəpleɪn]
How to pronounce hydroplane in American English:
US [ˈhaɪdrəˌplen]
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- Noun:
- an airplane that can land on or take off from water
- a speedboat that is equipped with hydrofoils that lift it so that it skims the water at high speeds
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- Verb:
- glide on the water in a hydroplane
Word Origin
- hydroplane (n.)
- "motorboat that glides on the surface of water," 1895, coined by U.S. engineer Harvey D. Williams ["Sibley Journal of Engineering," Cornell University, vol. X, p.81]; from hydro- + plane (from airplane).
- hydroplane (v.)
- by 1908, "to skim the surface of water by use of hydroplanes," from hydroplane (n.). Meaning "skid on a thin layer of water" (especially of automobile tires) first recorded 1962, properly aquaplane (itself from 1961 in this sense). Related: Hydroplaned; hydroplaning.