nacelle

[ nuh-sel ]

noun

1. the enclosed part of an airplane, dirigible, etc., in which the engine is housed or in which cargo or passengers are carried.
2. the car of a balloon.

nacelle

/ nəˈsɛl /

noun

1. a streamlined enclosure on an aircraft, not part of the fuselage, to accommodate an engine, passengers, crew, etc

Word History and Origins

Origin of nacelle¹

1475–85; < French: a small boat < Late Latin nāvicella, for Latin nāvicula, equivalent to nāvi ( s ) ship ( nave ) + -cula -cule ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of nacelle¹

C20: from French: small boat, from Late Latin nāvicella, a diminutive of Latin nāvis ship

Example Sentences

It also makes wing components, engine nacelles and pylons for Boeing jets.

From Seattle Times

The flaw could cause the inlet at the front end of the pod surrounding the engine — known as a nacelle — to overheat and potentially break up.

From Seattle Times

The nacelles that house the generator for each wind turbine are there, too.

From Seattle Times

While the turbines will be supplied by General Electric, the cabinlike structures called nacelles, which house the gearing and electronics, will be made in France.

From New York Times

Christopher Lorence, chief engineer at GE Aerospace said doing away with the heavy nacelle pod and the internal thrust reverser saves about a ton of weight on each engine.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• box
• crate