Nacelle

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Nacelle \Na*celle"\ (n[.a]*s[e^]l"), n. [F.]
     1. A small boat. [Obs.]
        [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
  
     2. The basket suspended from a balloon; hence, the framework
        forming the body of a dirigible balloon, and containing


        the machinery, passengers, etc.
        [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
  
     3. A streamlined enclosure on an airplane, as for the engine
        or for the cargo or passengers; -- formerly used to refer
        to the boatlike, inclosed body of an airplane which is
        usually now called the {fuselage}, and now referring
        mostly to the enclosure for the engine.
        [Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  nacelle
       n : a streamlined enclosure for an aircraft engine