empennage

(em′pə nij′, em pen′ij′; em′pə näz̸h′, äm′-)

noun

the tail assembly of an airplane, consisting of vertical and horizontal stabilizers, and including the fin, rudder, and elevators

Origin: Fr < OFr empenner, to feather an arrow < em-, in + penne, a feather: see pen

See empennage in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

The tail assembly of an aircraft, including the horizontal and vertical stabilizers, elevators, and rudder.

Origin:

Origin: French, feathers on an arrow, empennage

Origin: , from empenner, to feather an arrow

Origin: : en-, in; see en-¹

Origin: + penne, feather (from Latin penna; see pet- in Indo-European roots)

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