air tanker

noun

: an airplane equipped with tanks for carrying and dumping water during aerial firefighting operations
Much of that money went to the fire aviation budget for aerial firefighting with the use of air tankers and helicopters.—Gerald W. Williams, The Forest Service, 2007

Word History

First Known Use

1956, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of air tanker was in 1956

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Dictionary Entries Near air tanker

airt

air tanker

air taxi

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Cite this Entry

“Air tanker.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/air%20tanker. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

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