drift angle

noun

, Nautical.

1. the angle made by the path of a drifting vessel with its heading.

Word History and Origins

Origin of drift angle¹

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

In that case, the amount of antenna swing is also fed into the computer, which then cranks the drift angle into its computations.

From Time Magazine Archive

Working with direction, ground speed, drift angle and flight time from a known point of departure, the pilot's computer becomes an accurate navigator.

From Time Magazine Archive