Ornithopter
[awr-nə-THOP-tər]
Part of speech: noun
Origin: French, 20th century
1.
A machine designed to achieve flight by means of flapping wings.
Examples of Ornithopter in a sentence
"The historian assured me that several models of ornithopters were flown short distances in the 19th century."
"The flight museum had a display of pre-Wright brothers flying machines, including an actual French ornithopter."
About Ornithopter
“Ornithopter” is based on the French “ornithoptère.” That word was coined by joining the ancient Greek “ὄρνιθ-“ (“órnith-,” meaning “bird,”) and “πτερόν” (“pterón,” meaning “wing”).
Did you Know?
Today, flight powered by the gliding wings of airplanes or the propellers of helicopters is a reality, but in years past, many people believed the best way to take to the sky would be to mimic a bird. Formed out of the Greek words for “bird” and “wing,” “ornithopters” are flying machines that take flight by flapping wings. The first workable ornithopters were developed in 19th-century France, with a gunpowder-powered model successfully flying 80 meters. Though long eclipsed by airplanes, ornithopters continue to draw fans, many of whom fly radio-controlled ornithopters. These hobby ornithopters strike a markedly antique profile in the sky in contrast to modern drones.
