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Glite Dictionary
flying drainpipe

flying drainpipe

9.9
A simple tube-shaped jet engine that pushes air in short bursts and needs fast launch
  • noun
  • UK
translation icon : tubo volador
  • Engineers studied the flying drainpipe to understand pulsed propulsion systems in early aviation history.

Examples

  • The design of the flying drainpipe is characterized by its simple tube-like structure.

  • The V-1 flying bomb was powered by a flying drainpipe, giving it its infamous buzzing sound.

  • Although inefficient, the flying drainpipe allowed missiles to travel long distances during the war.

  • The flying drainpipe is a fascinating invention.

  • Many engineers are excited about the flying drainpipe technology.

  • The V-1 flying bomb is an example of a military missile powered by a flying drainpipe engine.

  • During World War II, engineers developed the flying drainpipe to improve the range of missiles.

Synonyms

ramjet
vsflying drainpipe
  • Specialized
1 9.4

A jet engine with no moving parts that uses forward speed to compress air and only works at high speed

is a rudimentary tube-style device usually linked to pulsing rather than continuous compression
ramjet engine
vsflying drainpipe
  • Specialized
1 8.1

An engine with no moving parts that needs very high speed to work

is often a tube-like pulse device rather than one defined by momentum compression
athodyd
vsflying drainpipe
  • Archaic
9.9

A simple jet engine with no moving parts that only works when moving very fast

is a simple tube-like design often operating in pulses rather than steady compression
atherodyde
vsflying drainpipe
  • Archaic
9.9

A simple jet engine that only works at high speed and needs a fast launch

is a rudimentary tube form commonly linked to pulse operation

Surface Forms

flying drainpipe singular
flying drainpipes plural

Morphology

flying + drainpipe

The phrase combines a clear adjective + noun image: a 'drainpipe' is a tube and 'flying' indicates it moves through the air, so a B1 learner who knows both words will likely infer a tube-like object that flies. However the specific technical meaning ‘a simple pulsejet/jet-engine’ is a specialized, metaphorical extension of that image and not fully predictable from the constituents alone, so full understanding (that it refers to a type of engine) may require prior exposure.

Etymology

Flying drainpipe The noun flying drainpipe comes from World War II when people saw a long, metal tube that flew and looked like a house's drainpipe. Because the V-1 and similar weapons used a simple 'jet engine' that made a loud buzzing sound, people began calling each such tube a flying drainpipe, and the name now means a simple, tube-shaped 'jet engine'.