strangle the parrot

English

WOTD – 6 May 2022

Etymology

From strangle + the + parrot (“(aviation, slang) transponder”). “Parrot” was the British codename for the identification friend or foe system on World War II aircraft which used transponders.[1]

Pronunciation

(Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˌstɹæŋɡ(ə)l ðə ˈpæɹət/
(General American) IPA^(key): /ˌstɹæŋɡəl ðə ˈpæɹət/, /-ˈpɛ-/
Rhymes: -æɹət
Hyphenation: stran‧gle the par‧rot

Verb

strangle the parrot (third-person singular simple present strangles the parrot, present participle strangling the parrot, simple past and past participle strangled the parrot)

(idiomatic, aviation, slang) To switch off the transponder (“a radar or radio transceiver that transmits some signal in response to receiving a predetermined signal”) of an aircraft, for example, because it is interfering with the radar system.
Antonym: squawk the parrot
- 1990, Tom Fahey, “Types of Jargon”, in The Joys of Jargon, Hauppauge, N.Y.; London: Barron’s Educational Series, →ISBN, pages 21–22:
  If you fly jets, you know what it means to strangle the parrot (turning off the transponder that identifies aircraft as friendly or hostile) and that the howgozit is a dial that shows how much fuel is left.
- 1990, Kevin D. Randle, chapter 6, in Carrier War (Wings over Nam; 4), Naples, Fla.: Speaking Volumes, published 2014, →ISBN:
  Over the radio, Kincaid heard the sounds of flights into the north: Air Force pilots talking to one another. […] Davis broke in with a radio call. “We strangle the parrot in five minutes.” Kincaid grinned. It meant that they would be turning off the IFF equipment.
- 2017, Tony Blackman; Anthony Wright, V Force Boys: All New Reminiscences by Air and Ground Crews Operating the Vulcan, Victor and Valiant in the Cold War and beyond, London: Grub Street, →ISBN:
  He had acquired a grey parrot on a trip to Africa and en route back to the UK, air traffic gave instructions to strangle the parrot, meaning of course switch off the identification, friend or foe (IFF) (codeword 'parrot'). Woobs feigned righteous indignation at this cruel command!

Translations

to switch off the transponder

References

Meryl Getline (17 April 2006; updated 18 April 2006), “Ask the captain: ‘Strangle my WHAT?’”, in USA Today‎, McLean, Va.: Gannett Co., ISSN 0734-7456, OCLC 658972642, archived from the original on 2009-01-23.