barrel roll

¹

noun

, Aeronautics.

1. a maneuver in which an airplane executes a complete roll by revolving once around its longitudinal axis.

barrel-roll

²

[ bar-uhl-rohl ]

verb (used without object)

, Aeronautics.

1. to perform a barrel roll.

barrel roll

noun

1. a flight manoeuvre in which an aircraft rolls about its longitudinal axis while following a spiral course in line with the direction of flight

verb

1. intr (of an aircraft) to perform a barrel roll

Word History and Origins

Origin of barrel roll¹

First recorded in 1930–35

Origin of barrel roll²

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

The student, Darryl George, 18, has locs, or long ropelike strands of hair, that he pins on his head in a barrel roll, a protective style that his mother said reflected Black culture.

From New York Times

Suddenly, she darts away, soaring into a barrel roll.

From National Geographic

It wasn't strange to see him pretending to crawl up the lockers, or for him to perform tactical movements like barrel rolls in the middle of the hallway.

From Literature

Last month, there were a series of Extreme E races in Sardinia and one of the cars, driven by Stéphane Sarrazin, was badly damaged in a barrel roll.

From BBC

Hassan tried to save things by hurdling over her fallen opponent, but instead tripped and did half a barrel roll.

From Fox News