pursuit plane

noun

, Military.

1. (formerly) an armed airplane designed for speed and maneuverability in fighting enemy aircraft.

Word History and Origins

Origin of pursuit plane¹

First recorded in 1915–20

Example Sentences

He had a bag of tricks that would get any pursuit plane off his tail.

From Project Gutenberg

Then, a few hours before its arrival, the police got word that a U.S. customs pursuit plane with sophisticated surveillance gear had intercepted the charter as it winged its way over Key West.

From Time Magazine Archive

Benjamin S. Kelsey, 74, aeronautical engineer, leading test pilot and retired Air Force brigadier general, who in 1929 assisted James Doolittle in the first "blind" instrument takeoff and landing, set a speed record in 1938 when he flew from Dayton to Buffalo at an average speed of 350 m.p.h. in an Army pursuit plane, and helped develop combat tactics for U.S. fighters in World War II; of cancer; in Stevensburg, Va. DIED.

From Time Magazine Archive

Out of the slosh of manufacturers' publicity releases, out of starry-eyed speeches about far-distant planes that will "make the angels gasp," one fact emerged last week: the U.S. has another pursuit plane in battle and the first reports look good.

From Time Magazine Archive

Reaching the spot, searchers found cool, collected authorities, heard the true explanation: a barrage balloon had broken its moorings, and lest its trailing wires short-circuit power lines a French pursuit plane had shot it down.

From Time Magazine Archive