Whirlybird: meaning, definitions and examples
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whirlybird
[ ˈwəːrliˌbəːrd ]
helicopter
A whirlybird is a colloquial term for a helicopter. It is used informally to refer to the rotary-wing aircraft that can take off and land vertically, hover, and fly forward, backward, and laterally.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- The whirlybird landed on the roof of the skyscraper.
- We took a tour of the city in a whirlybird.
Translations
Translations of the word "whirlybird" in other languages:
🇵🇹 helicóptero
🇮🇳 हेलीकॉप्टर
🇩🇪 Hubschrauber
🇮🇩 helikopter
🇺🇦 гелікоптер
🇵🇱 helikopter
🇯🇵 ヘリコプター
🇫🇷 hélicoptère
🇪🇸 helicóptero
🇹🇷 helikopter
🇰🇷 헬리콥터
🇸🇦 مروحية
🇨🇿 vrtulník
🇸🇰 vrtuľník
🇨🇳 直升机
🇸🇮 helikopter
🇮🇸 þyrla
🇰🇿 тікұшақ
🇬🇪 ვერტმფრენი
🇦🇿 helikopter
🇲🇽 helicóptero
Word origin
The term 'whirlybird' originated in the early 20th century as a playful and informal way to refer to helicopters. The word 'whirly' suggests the sound of the rotating blades, while 'bird' emphasizes the ability of helicopters to fly. Over time, 'whirlybird' has become a popular nickname for helicopters in casual conversation and media.