flat scissors

US/flæt ˈsɪz.ɚz/

noun

A form of the scissors defensive maneuver in dogfighting, involving turning one's aircraft towards that of the attacker and slowing in order to force the opponent to overshoot, without moving out of the initial plane of the attack; often continues, with the roles of attacker and defender alternating between the two aircraft, until one is either shot down or manages to escape.

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Meanings

nounflat scissors (countable and uncountable, plural flat scissors)
  1. uncountableaeronauticsA form of the scissors defensive maneuver in dogfighting, involving turning one's aircraft towards that of the attacker and slowing in order to force the opponent to overshoot, without moving out of the initial plane of the attack; often continues, with the roles of attacker and defender alternating between the two aircraft, until one is either shot down or manages to escape.
    1. countableaeronauticsAn instance of the above dogfighting maneuver.

Synonyms & antonyms

Broader
scissors
Cite this entry
APA

flat scissors. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/flat%20scissors

MLA

“flat scissors.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/flat%20scissors. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “flat scissors,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/flat%20scissors.

Source: flat scissors on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.