parachute brake

noun

1. a parachute opened horizontally from the tail of an airplane upon landing, used as an aid in braking.

Word History and Origins

Origin of parachute brake¹

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

He lauded changes that had been made to the parachute brake to make it deploy smoothly on the run.

From BBC

Ostich popped the eight-foot parachute brake; the Flying Caduceus skidded wildly for nearly two miles, snapped off a wheel, hopped briefly into the air and shuddered to a halt.

From Time Magazine Archive