sesquiplane: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Extremely low / Historical technical termTechnical / Historical aviation
Quick answer
What does “sesquiplane” mean?
A type of biplane aircraft where one wing is significantly smaller than the other.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A type of biplane aircraft where one wing is significantly smaller than the other.
A historical aeronautical design concept from the early 20th century, characterized by a main upper wing and a much smaller lower wing, typically to reduce drag and structural weight.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in usage; the term is equally obscure in both variants. British sources might reference specific WWI-era British prototypes, while American sources might reference early US manufacturers like Curtiss.
Connotations
Connotes pioneering, experimental, and often impractical early aircraft design.
Frequency
Virtually never encountered in modern language outside of niche historical or modelling contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “sesquiplane” in a Sentence
The [AIRCRAFT] was a sesquiplane.They experimented with a sesquiplane [DESIGN/CONFIGURATION].The [MANUFACTURER]'s sesquiplane featured...Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sesquiplane” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The museum's restoration of the vintage sesquiplane is nearly complete.
- His grandfather piloted a fragile sesquiplane in the 1920s.
American English
- The airshow featured a replica of a classic Curtiss sesquiplane.
- Aerodynamic challenges led to the sesquiplane's quick obsolescence.
adjective
British English
- They studied sesquiplane aerodynamics in their history of engineering module.
American English
- The sesquiplane configuration offered a slight weight advantage.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not applicable.
Academic
Used in historical papers on aviation technology, specifically early 20th-century aircraft design evolution.
Everyday
Never used.
Technical
Used in detailed descriptions of vintage aircraft specifications, aeromodelling, and aviation archaeology.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sesquiplane”
- Using it to describe any biplane.
- Spelling as 'sesquiplain' or 'sesquiplan'.
- Assuming it is a common or modern term.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The sesquiplane is an obsolete design from the early days of aviation, roughly 1910s-1920s. Modern aircraft use monoplane configurations almost exclusively.
The prefix 'sesqui-' comes from Latin and means 'one and a half'. In this context, it refers to the aircraft having a main wing and a wing that is about 'half' the size.
The most famous example is likely the Nieuport 17, a highly successful French World War I fighter aircraft which used a sesquiplane wing configuration.
Advances in structural engineering and materials made the stronger, simpler monoplane design possible. Monoplanes offered better performance, less drag, and eventually became the standard.
A type of biplane aircraft where one wing is significantly smaller than the other.
Sesquiplane is usually technical / historical aviation in register.
Sesquiplane: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsɛskwɪˈpleɪn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsɛskwɪˈpleɪn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
"SESquiplane" = "SES" (think 'semi' or 'one and a half') + "plane". It's a biplane where the lower wing is about half the size of the upper one.
Conceptual Metaphor
A HIERARCHICAL STRUCTURE (dominant upper wing, subordinate lower wing).
Practice
Quiz
What is the defining feature of a sesquiplane?