drogue

Meanings

1. A floating object attached to the end of a harpoon line to slow a whale down and prevent it from diving.
2. A type of bag pulled behind a boat to stop it from broaching to.
3. A conical parachute used as a brake for some kinds of aircraft, or as a means of extracting and deploying a larger parachute, or to slow a rapidly-moving vehicle to a speed where it can safely deploy a larger parachute.
4. A conical basket or device used variously as a target for gunnery practice, and as a docking point for aerial refuelling.
5. A wind cone.

1. To harpoon or spear (a whale) with a weapon that has a drogue attached.
2. To use a drogue with.
3. To act as a drogue, slowing down and stabilizing a drifting object.
4. To transport small loads along the coastline to larger ports, where they can be added to the cargo of larger ships that make longer journeys.

Etymology

Uncertain; probably related to drag in some way.

Translations