Whirlybird: meaning, definitions and examples

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whirlybird

 

[ ˈwəːrliˌbəːrd ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

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

chopper, copter, helicopter.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
whirlybird

Informal and playful term often used in casual conversation.

  • Look at that whirlybird flying over the park! The kids love watching whirlybirds take off
helicopter

Formal and most commonly used term, suitable for official, educational, and general use.

  • The hospital has its own helicopter for emergency medical transport
  • He works as a helicopter pilot
  • The helicopter landed promptly at the designated zone
chopper

Informal term that may be used in the context of military, action movies, or adventurous situations. Sometimes has a rugged or bold tone.

  • The rescue team arrived in a chopper
  • In the movie, they escaped the jungle by jumping into a chopper
  • The soldiers called for a chopper to evacuate the injured
copter

A colloquial abbreviation of helicopter, suitable for casual conversation or informal writing.

  • Look, there's a news copter hovering above the city
  • The tourists enjoyed a scenic ride in a copter
  • The police used a copter to track the suspect

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

Etymology

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.