| 释义 |
aircraft|ˈɛəkrɑːft, -æ-|
[f. air- III. + craft n. 9.]
Flying-machines collectively; a flying-machine.
Since the 1930s commonly restricted to denote an aeroplane (as distinct from a balloon or airship) or aeroplanes collectively. The nineteenth-century examples refer to balloons and airships.
1850J. Wise System of Aeronautics xvi. 102 The aircraft has but one medium, the water-craft has two. 1876C. B. Mansfield Aerial Navig. 2 Air-craft seems an appropriate term for the whole apparatus, including boat and gas vessel, or car and balloon. Ibid. ii. viii. 323 The inventors of air-crafts. 1903Aeronaut. Jrnl. VII. 81/1 His world-famed aircrafts. 1909Daily Chron. 26 Feb. 1/2 The vast commercial possibilities that the manufacture and world-wide use of air craft offer. 1910Rotch in Epitome Aeronaut. Ann., [Suppose] an aircraft to possess the very moderate speed of 9 metres per second. 1910Daily Mail 27 May 6/1 The three types of aircraft—the balloon, the airship, and the aeroplane. 1912F. T. Jane All the World's Air-craft III. 7/1 It has..been deemed advisable gradually to change the title of this annual to All the World's Air-craft, in order to avoid all risk of misunderstanding as to its scope—‘air-craft’ being apparently the only generic which cannot be associated with a single type. 1915Whitaker's Almanack 1916 465/1 Sixteen German aircraft attempted to fly over the English Channel. 1933Aeroplane 19 July 124/2 The Air Council will do well to make a note of the fact that the word ‘aircraft’, which they allow their subordinates to use in the limited sense of the word ‘aeroplane’, covers 23 classes of air vehicles. 1936Discovery Aug. 238/1 Like all mapping cameras it is installed in the aircraft on a mount. 1942R. Hillary Last Enemy ii. 34 The proper handling of an aircraft. 1943W. S. Churchill Second World War (1952) V. 566 Will you please make the following terminology effective in all British official correspondence: For ‘aeroplane’ the word ‘aircraft’ should be used... It is a good thing to have a rule and stick to it. 1944H. St. G. Saunders Per Ardua ix. 122 The constant coast-wise patrols carried out by three kinds of aircraft, land planes, seaplanes, and airships. 1945Yorks. Post 19 Apr. 1/2 Nearly 1,000 aircraft of R.A.F. Bomber Command. 1955Times 9 May 10/5 An aircraft of the Queen's Flight. 1960C. H. Gibbs-Smith Aeroplane i. xv. 119 The helicopter..soon became an indispensable type of aircraft.
b. attrib., as aircraft hand [hand n. 8], abbrev. A.C.H.; aircraft carrier, a ship that carries and serves as a base for aircraft; so aircraft-carrying adj.
1912Aeronautics Nov. 365/1, 4 machines are under construction at the Royal Aircraft Factory. 1919Times 30 Dec. 4/6 The aircraft carrier Hermes..is to be towed from the Tyne to Devonport. 1921Airman Nov. 113/1 [In the] aircraft of the future..we shall find such people as cooks, fire-fighters..and aircrafthands; these latter, of course, to be employed as guards, and to do odd jobs which will be numerous no doubt on this type of aircraft. 1922T. E. Lawrence Let. 1 Oct. (1938) 363, I can't ask the corporal how an aircraft hand addresses an air-vice-marshall. 1925― Let. 7 Oct. (1938) 484 Five are fitters, five are riggers, five are A.C.H.'s. 1925Jane's All World's Aircraft a. 10a/1 The following are the aircraft-carrying ships owned by the British Navy. 1940E. C. Shepherd Britain's Air Power 12 The latest aircraft carriers can carry many aeroplanes. A total of 60 would not be an over-estimate, though the exact complement of any such floating aerodrome must not be given. 1942O. J. Lissitzyn Internat. Air Transport 430 (heading) Route miles and aircraft miles flown. 1957Technology Mar. 8/1 In the short space of fifty years the aircraft industry has come a long way.
Hence ˈaircraftman (abbrev. A.C., A/C), the lowest non-commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force. Also (in non-official use) ˈaircraftsman.
So ˈaircraftwoman (abbrev. A.C.W.), the lowest rank in the women's air service.
1920Glasgow Herald 2 Aug. 6 The demand for experienced pilots and aircraftsmen. 1921King's Regs. R.A.F. 8 The ranks of Warrant Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers, and men of the Royal Air Force..are as follows..Non-Commissioned Officers. Flight Sergeant. Sergeant. Corporal. Men in the Ranks. Leading Aircraftman. Aircraftman. 1922T. E. Lawrence Let. 6 Nov. (1938) 376 Address now No. 352087, A.C. 2 Ross. 1924Lancet 19 Jan. 164/2 Examined the olfactory condition of 100 air craftsmen, and found only one who could not distinguish petrol, orange, or peppermint among the test solutions offered to him. 1943C. H. Ward-Jackson It's a Piece of Cake 10 A/C Plonk, Aircraftman 2nd Class.
1939Times 11 Sept. 5/6 Airwomen..will receive 2s. 2d. a day on entering, 2s. 8d. a day when mustered as aircraftwomen first class. 1941J. A. Hammerton ABC of RAF 53/1 Aircraftwomen 2nd class. 1942Ibid. (ed. 2) 58 A.C.W., Aircraftwoman. 1943K. B. Beauman Wings on her Shoulders v. 57 A plotter, A.C.W. Cooper, told me about the attack on North Weald. |