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Glite Dictionary
strafer

strafer

9.9
A pilot who flies low and shoots at people or vehicles on the ground
  • noun
  • /ˈstreɪfər/
  • Specialized
translation icon : piloto de ataque
  • During the mission, the strafer made several dangerous low passes over enemy convoys.

Examples

  • The Air Force deployed an experienced strafer to the front lines to support ground troops.

  • Many soldiers were grateful for the support provided by a strafer during the battle.

  • The strafer flew low over the battlefield.

  • Many strafers were deployed during the operation.

  • The pilot identified the target and executed a precise attack as a strafer on the enemy bunker.

  • In World War II, a skilled strafer provided critical air support by targeting troop movements from above.

  • The strafer flew just above the ground, unleashing fire on enemy positions to help the advancing troops.

Synonyms

combat pilot
vsstrafer
2 6.0

A person who flies military planes to fight enemy aircraft

attacks targets on the ground by flying low and firing weapons

Antonyms

defender
252 2.8

A person who protects someone or something from harm

Surface Forms

strafer singular
strafers plural

Morphology

strafer = strafe (transparent) = strafe + er

Formed by the productive agentive suffix '-er' on the verb 'strafe', so its meaning ('one who strafes') follows directly from the base.

Etymology

Strafer comes from the verb strafe, which itself comes from the German word Strafe meaning 'punishment'. Soldiers in the world wars used strafe to mean 'attack from the air' with guns while flying low. So a strafer is a pilot who 'punishes' ground targets by flying low and firing machine guns or cannon.