zero-zeroadj.n.
/ˌzɪərəʊˈzɪərəʊ/, U.S. /ˌzɪroʊˈzɪroʊ/, /ˌziroʊˈziroʊ/ A. adj.
1. Aeronautics.
a. Of atmospheric conditions: characterized by or having both a zero cloud ceiling and zero (horizontal and vertical) visibility; (of a landing or other manoeuvre) carried out in such conditions. Also: designating visibility which is effectively zero in both horizontal and vertical directions.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > invisibility > [adjective] > causing lack of visibility
blind1927
zero-zero1930
1930 Greeley (Colorado) Daily Tribune 16 Oct. 1/3 The Boeing radio station here stated that Caldwell was flying in ‘zero zero’ weather, meaning there was neither ceiling nor visibility, and Caldwell could not see the ground when he landed.
1947 Shell Aviation News Nov. 7/2 There are few greater nervous strains than that experienced by a pilot of a transport in deciding to switch over from instruments and manually bring the ship in these last few hundred feet when visibility is ‘zero-zero’.
1967 Times Rev. Industry June 53/1 Category 3C represents visibility of less than 50 metres and includes ‘zero-zero’ conditions under which safety experts believe operations will not be possible for a very long time.
2002 H. L. Steele Food Soldier ii. 77 This newest of Boeing 747s had the capability, and the trained crew, to make a zero-zero landing.
b. Designating an ejection seat that can eject a person safely even when the aircraft is on the ground and stationary (i.e. at zero altitude and zero velocity).
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > air or space travel > a means of conveyance through the air > aeroplane > parts of aircraft > [adjective] > type of ejector-seat
zero-zero1961
1961 Aeroplane 100 593/2 The most interesting item in the Martin-Baker Aircraft Co., Ltd., display..is the prototype rocket-assisted ‘zero-zero’ ejection seat for VTOL aircraft.
1977 P. Way Super-Celeste 215 They had explained to him the controls of his zero-zero ejection seat.
1996 New Scientist 21 Sept. 89/3 A seat lofts a pilot from an aircraft at zero forward speed and zero altitude (the so-called zero-zero seat) to an altitude at which the parachute can deploy safely.
2009 J. Winchester World's Worst Aircraft (new ed.) 22 The unreliability of the T-40 engine and lack of an effective zero-zero ejection seat helped kill the turboprop ‘tail-sitter’.
2. Designating a disarmament proposal for the total removal of certain types of weapons on both sides of a conflict or confrontation; spec. one put forward in the early 1980s for both the Soviet Union and the United States to remove all their medium-range nuclear missiles from Europe. Esp. in zero-zero option, zero-zero solution. Cf. zero option n. at zero n. and adj. Compounds 2.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > peace > pacification > disarmament > [adjective]
unilateralist1959
multilateralist1960
zero-zero1982
the world > relative properties > number > mathematical number or quantity > [adjective] > zero > double zero
zero-zero1982
society > armed hostility > peace > pacification > disarmament > [noun] > nuclear disarmament
nuclear disarmament1956
denuclearization1959
zero-zero solution1982
zero-zero option1996
1982 Statement to Press in Public Papers Presidents U.S.: R. Reagan (1984) 1610/2 The zero-zero solution remains the best arms control result.
1996 National Interest (Nexis) Summer The Soviets themselves also came around to..agreeing to the so-called zero-zero option on intermediate-range ballistic missiles.
2015 J. Meacham Destiny & Power xxv. 285 The Soviets rejected Reagan's zero-zero option, which made the president all the more determined to deploy the Pershing IIs.
B. n.
1. Aeronautics. Atmospheric conditions in which both the (horizontal and vertical) visibility and the cloud ceiling are effectively zero. Cf. sense A. 1a.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > invisibility > [noun] > when visibility and cloud ceiling are zero
zero-zero1939
1939 J. C. Hixson & I. Colodny Word Ways xvi. 141 Zero-zero (no visibility in any direction).
1949 Skyways Aug. 51/1 When the visibility gets shorter than three miles, it means a quick shift to zero-zero is possible.
1975 Flying Oct. 34/1 There is no minimum forecast for a destination—it can call for zero-zero all day.
2003 M. Danford Juneau, this is Echo 3 iv. 16 Landing in zero-zero is rarely attempted if there's wind and/or ice involved.
2. A zero-zero disarmament proposal or option. See sense A. 2.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > number > mathematical number or quantity > [noun] > zero > nought or character zero > double zero
zero-zero1986
1986 Observer 19 Oct. 10/3 At least four important shifts were signalled by Gorbachov during the summit... His opening bid had been to offer zero-zero in Europe, combined with a freeze at existing levels in Asia.
2015 S. F. Kraemer Inside Cold War xi. 246 The responses diverged, beginning with Secretary of State Alexander Haig, a former NATO Supreme Commander and opponent of zero-zero.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2018; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.n.1930