drogue

/droʊɡ/
noun
  1. A small parachute used to slow down or stabilize something, such as a spacecraft, aircraft, or a falling object.
    • The skydiver's drogue opened first to reduce speed before the main parachute.
    • The spacecraft deployed a drogue to slow its descent through the atmosphere.
    • A drogue parachute helped stabilize the race car during the high-speed test.
  2. A cone-shaped device towed behind a boat or aircraft, used for stabilization or as a target for gunnery practice.
    • Pilots practiced shooting at a drogue towed behind another plane.
    • The fishing boat deployed a drogue to keep it steady in the rough sea.
    • A sea anchor, also called a drogue, helps prevent a boat from drifting too fast.
What does "drogue" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean