autogiro Hear it!

autogiro Definition

auto·giro (ôt′ə jī)

noun pl. -·ros

an aircraft that moves forward by means of a propeller and is supported in the air mainly by means of a large rotor mounted horizontally above the fuselage and turned by air pressure rather than motor power: largely superseded by the helicopter

Etymology: Sp, orig. a trademark, Autogiro < auto-, auto- + Gr gyros, a circle: see gyrate