screw propeller


noun

a rotary propelling device, as for a ship or airplane, consisting of a number of blades that radiate from a central hub and are so inclined to the plane of rotation as to tend to drive a helical path through the substance in which they rotate.

Origin of screw propeller

First recorded in 1830–40

OTHER WORDS FROM screw propeller

screw-pro·pelled, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for screw propeller

British Dictionary definitions for screw propeller

screw propeller

noun

an early form of ship's propeller in which an Archimedes' screw is used to produce thrust by accelerating a flow of water

Derived forms of screw propeller

screw-propelled, adjective