paravane

[ par-uh-veyn ]

noun

1. an underwater defensive device against mines, consisting of a pair of torpedo-shaped vanes towed at the bow of a ship, usually a minesweeper, by cables that can cut the cable of a moored mine, causing the mine to rise to the surface, where it can be destroyed or removed from the water.

paravane

/ ˈpærəˌveɪn /

noun

1. a torpedo-shaped device towed from the bow of a vessel so that the cables will cut the anchors of any moored mines

Word History and Origins

Origin of paravane¹

First recorded in 1915–20; para- ¹ + vane

Word History and Origins

Origin of paravane¹

C20: from para- ² + vane

Example Sentences

More of the white hull and the anchor came into view, followed by the paravane, a long pole used to snare mines.

From BBC

He, Commander Charles Dennistoun Burney, a British M.P., inventor of the paravane comes to prepare for a series of trans-Atlantic flights by the giant dirigible R-100, now nearly complete.

From Time Magazine Archive

Soon submarines, submerged to periscope depth, surrounded the Revenge; dummy torpedoes were fired against the "paravane"; and airplanes were catapulted from the deck of an aircraft carrier to drop "depth bombs" among the submarines.

From Time Magazine Archive

Upon encountering the anchor chain of a submerged mine or the hull of a submarine, the cable draws the paravane into contact.

From Time Magazine Archive

The defensive paravane is simply the old idea of the pilot boat which, after having put the pilot on board, makes fast a line from the bow of the ship and by putting the helm well over, runs out on the bow away from possibility of bumping the ship.

From Time Magazine Archive