Definition of "drogue" in English

noun

1. (whaling) A floating object attached to the end of a harpoon line to slow a whale down and prevent it from diving.

2. (nautical) A type of bag pulled behind a boat to stop it from broaching to.

3. (aeronautics) A conical parachute used as a brake for some kinds of aircraft, or as a means of extracting and deploying a larger parachute, or to slow a rapidly-moving vehicle to a speed where it can safely deploy a larger parachute.

4. (aeronautics) A conical basket or device used variously as a target for gunnery practice, and as a docking point for aerial refuelling.

5. A wind cone.

verb

1. (transitive) To harpoon or spear (a whale) with a weapon that has a drogue attached.

2. (transitive) To use a drogue with.

3. (intransitive) To act as a drogue, slowing down and stabilizing a drifting object.

4. (transitive) To transport small loads along the coastline to larger ports, where they can be added to the cargo of larger ships that make longer journeys.