fairing

[ fair-ing ]

noun

1. a structure on the exterior of an aircraft or boat, for reducing drag.
2. a structure, as a rigid, transparent, plastic sheet, at the front of a motorcycle, bicycle, etc., for deflecting wind and rain.

fairing

¹

/ ˈfɛərɪŋ /

noun

1. archaic.
   a present, esp from a fair
2. a sweet circular biscuit made with butter

fairing

²

/ ˈfɛərɪŋ /

noun

1. See cowling
   an external metal structure fitted around parts of an aircraft, car, vessel, etc, to reduce drag Also calledfillet Compare cowling

Word History and Origins

Origin of fairing¹

First recorded in 1910–15; fair ¹ + -ing ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of fairing¹

C20: fair ¹+ -ing ¹

Example Sentences

Indeed, like SpaceX, Relativity hopes to eventually recover the whole rocket—first stage, second stage, and fairing—a feat they believe 3D printed parts may help them realize.

From Singularity Hub 

The mission will use previously flown hardware for both the rocket's first stage, as well as the payload fairing.

From Ars Technica

Each half of this mission's payload fairings has also flown one earlier mission.

From Ars Technica

Because right now, in this economy, no one who is in office is fairing particularly well.

From The Daily Beast

Fancy or no fancy, if a woman asked him for a fairing, he would give it her, or I don't know my gentleman.

From Project Gutenberg

Why, you know it is fair day, and you promised Bessie that you would buy her a fairing,—to say nothing of me.

From Project Gutenberg

When they parted, Burns paid Clark his wages in full, gave him a written character, and a shilling for a fairing.

From Project Gutenberg

The captain's wife began teasing him for a fairing, which he very bluntly refused to bestow.

From Project Gutenberg

One of them kicked out behind, and had nearly given me a blow on the breast, so that I might have said I had had my fairing!

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• allowance
• award
• benefit
• bonus
• contribution
• donation
• endowment
• favor
• giveaway
• grant
• legacy
• offering
• premium
• present
• relief
• reward
• souvenir
• subsidy
• tip
• tribute