arresting wire

noun

aeronautics

: a wire cable that is stretched across an airfield runway or the flight deck of an aircraft carrier and that can be engaged by an aircraft's arrester hook during landing in order to halt the forward motion of the aircraft within a limited space

The ship is equipped with arresting wires which are capable of safely landing aircraft traveling at speeds of more than 200 miles per hour in about 300 feet.

—State News Service, 19 May 2009

Note: A set of arresting wires is the main component of arresting gear.

Word History

First Known Use

1936, in the meaning defined above

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