autogiro

[aw-tuh-jahy-roh] /ˌɔ təˈdʒaɪ roʊ/

noun, plural autogiros.

an aircraft with an unpowered, horizontally rotating propeller on a shaft above the fuselage that provides lift for the machine, with forward propulsion being provided by a conventional propeller: superseded in most applications by the helicopter.

Also, autogyro.

Also called gyrocopter, gyroplane.

Origin

1920-25; formerly a trademark

Examples from the web for autogiro

The design recalls the precursor of the helicopter, the autogiro.
She is giving demonstration flights of her autogiro, a plane with rotating blades on top as well as a propeller.

British Dictionary definitions for autogiro

autogiro

/ˌɔːtəʊˈdʒaɪrəʊ/

noun (pl) -ros

a self-propelled aircraft supported in flight mainly by unpowered rotating horizontal blades Also called gyroplane Compare helicopter

Word Origin

C20: originally a trademark

Encyclopedia Article for autogiro

rotary-wing aircraft, superseded after World War II by the more efficient helicopter. It employed a propeller for forward motion and a freely rotating, unmotorized rotor for lift. In searching for an aircraft that could be slowed down in flight and landed vertically, experimenters built many prototypes that were difficult to control in flight

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