ClimateSeptember 3, 2026

paracargo

PAIR-uh-kar-go

Definition

Supplies, equipment, or heavy machinery that is delivered to a remote location by parachute.

Etymology

A portmanteau formed from the prefix 'para-' (derived from parachute) and the word 'cargo,' reflecting the specialized military and civilian practice of dropping goods from aircraft.

In the news

The article uses the term to describe the massive aerial delivery of gear like pumps and boats in Alaska, highlighting the logistical complexity of the smokejumper operations.

Smokejumpers: They Jump Out of Planes to Fight Wildfires

Read the full article ↗

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