stagger
n. countablen. a sudden, unexpected change in the direction of an aircraft. It usually happens because of a sudden shift in the wind or a problem with the engine.
n. an abrupt, uncontrolled change in the direction or attitude of an aircraft. Often caused by a sudden shift in wind direction or a sudden loss of engine power.
The pilot warned us about a possible stagger during takeoff.
The sudden stagger of the aircraft caused the passengers to brace for an emergency landing.
Pilots are trained to recognize the subtle signs of a stagger, which can occur when a sudden crosswind hits the fuselage at a critical angle during the climb.
From Middle English stakeren, from Old Norse stakra (“to push, stagger”). Cognate with dialectal Danish stagre.
From stag + -er.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Last updated May 25, 2026