ballonet

American  

[bal-uh-ney] / ˌbæl əˈneɪ /

noun

1. an air or gasbag compartment in a balloon or airship, used to control buoyancy and maintain shape.

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ballonet British  

/ ˌbæləˈnɛt /

noun

1. an air or gas compartment in a balloon or nonrigid airship, used to control buoyancy and shape

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Etymology

Origin of ballonet

From French, dating back to 1900–05; see origin at balloon, -et

Example Sentences

Steering.—Differs from other standard types, in that only one ballonet being fitted, an elevator is introduced under the bow.

From Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1913 by Various

The envelope is a rigid one of aluminium, subdivided into forty-nine compartments, each of which contains a flexible ballonet.

From The Airship "Golden Hind" by Westerman, Percy F. (Percy Francis)

One central ballonet instead of the usual two.

From Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1913 by Various

The immediate cause may have been a leaky valve permitting the gas to escape, or a faulty air-pump which made prompt filling of the ballonet impossible.

From Aircraft and Submarines The Story of the Invention, Development, and Present-Day Uses of War's Newest Weapons by Abbot, Willis J. (Willis John)

During the rest of the night the crew worked with a will--patching, mending, and "doping" the holed fabric and carefully testing each repaired ballonet with compressed air before refilling it with the precious brodium.

From The Airship "Golden Hind" by Westerman, Percy F. (Percy Francis)