air brake

noun

1. a brake or system of brakes operated by compressed air.
2. Aeronautics. a device for reducing the air speed of an aircraft by increasing its drag.
3. a device for stopping the sails of a windmill by disrupting the flow of air around them.

air brake

noun

1. a brake operated by compressed air, esp in heavy vehicles and trains
2. Also calleddive brake an articulated flap or small parachute for reducing the speed of an aircraft
3. a rotary fan or propeller connected to a shaft to reduce its speed

Word History and Origins

Origin of air brake¹

An Americanism dating back to 1870–75

Example Sentences

At APM Terminals, the largest container site in the Western Hemisphere, the air echoes with truck horns, air brakes and the warning beeps of mobile cranes.

From Washington Post

After the plant closure announcement, the air brake tester found a job making dashboards and bumpers for Toyota.

From ProPublica

Soon, she moved up to air brake tester, sliding underneath the massive steel vehicles to fix pipes.

From ProPublica

Johnson Welded Products    Ohio-based manufacturer of reservoirs for air brake systems.

From The Daily Beast

Johnson Welded Products Ohio-based manufacturer of reservoirs for air brake systems.

From The Daily Beast

George Westinghouse, Jr., about thirty years ago, took out a patent for the air brake.

From Project Gutenberg

Never rely on the air brake to hold the train for any length of time.

From Project Gutenberg

The control valve takes no part in the application or release of the straight air brake.

From Project Gutenberg

However, Westinghouse was not discouraged, but continued to experiment, and the air-brake as we have it to-day was the result.

From Project Gutenberg

Up to that time the air-brake had never been used upon the Rome, Watertown & Ogdensburgh.

From Project Gutenberg