Blimp

Blimp
/blimp/, (sometimes l.c.)
[1930-35]

* * *

 nonrigid or semirigid airship dependent on internal gas pressure to maintain its form. The origin of the name blimp is uncertain, but the most common explanation is that it derives from “British Class B airship” plus “limp”—i.e., nonrigid. Blimps were used by navies during World War I in convoy and antisubmarine patrol duty, became attractions at fairs and expositions, and later carried advertising messages.

      The U.S. Navy's ZPG-3W airship—403 feet (123 metres) long, 85 feet in diameter, with a capacity of more than 1,500,000 cubic feet (42,450 cubic metres)—was the world's largest nonrigid blimp. Four of them were commissioned in 1958. One exploded and crashed two years later, and the Navy retired the others by 1962.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Blimp — est un terme anglo américain désignant un ballon dirigeable souple (par opposition à rigide). Blimp américain durant la Seconde Guerre mondiale Le terme blimp serait onomatopéique, le son que fait l aéronef quand on frappe l enveloppe du ballon… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • blimp — s.n. (cin.) Carcasă insonoră în care se introduce aparatul de filmat, în cazul filmărilor cu priză directă de sunet. – Din engl. blimp. Trimis de paula, 20.08.2002. Sursa: DEX 98  blimp s. n. Trimis de siveco, 10.08.2004. Sursa: Dicţionar… …   Dicționar Român

  • Blimp — n. [from Colonel Blimp, a fictional character] any elderly pompous reactionary. Syn: Colonel Blimp. [WordNet 1.5] 2. a small nonrigid airship used for observation or as a barrage balloon. Syn: sausage balloon, sausage. [WordNet 1.5] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • blimp — /blimp/, n. 1. a small, nonrigid airship or dirigible, esp. one used chiefly for observation. 2. Slang. a fat person. [1915 20; of uncert. orig.] * * * ▪ aircraft  nonrigid or semirigid airship dependent on internal gas pressure to maintain its… …   Universalium

  • Blimp — also .Colonel Blimp n BrE [Date: 1900 2000; Origin: Colonel Blimp, a cartoon character invented by David Low] someone, especially an old man, with old fashioned political ideas used to show disapproval >Blimpish adj …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • blimp — blimp; blimp·ish; blimp·ish·ly; …   English syllables

  • blimp — [blimp] n. [echoic of sound caused by thumping the airship bag with a finger: prob. coined (1915) by A. D. Cunningham, Brit Navy Air Force] Informal 1. a nonrigid or semirigid airship 2. [after Col. Blimp, creation of LOW Sir David] a pompous,… …   English World dictionary

  • blimp — [blımp] n [Date: 1900 2000; Origin: Perhaps from Type B limp , official name given to an airship without an inner frame] 1.) a small ↑airship (=type of aircraft without wings) 2.) AmE spoken not polite an offensive word for a very fat person …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • Blimp — der; s, s <aus gleichbed. engl. blimp>: 1. in den USA Bez. für ein unstarres Kleinluftschiff, das bes. in der Luftwerbung u. für militärische Beobachtungszwecke verwendet wird. 2. Schallschutzgehäuse für eine Kamera [zur Dämpfung der… …   Das große Fremdwörterbuch

  • blimp — [ blımp ] noun count a type of AIRSHIP …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”