n.
Pronunciation: ˌ j ī -r ō - ' st ā -b ə - ˌ l ī -z ə r
Function: noun
Date: 1921
: a stabilizing device (as for a ship or airplane) that consists of a continuously driven gyro spinning about a vertical axis and pivoted so that its axis of spin may be tipped fore-and-aft in the vertical plane and that serves to oppose sideways motion ― called also gy · ro · stat \ ' j ī -r ə - ˌ stat \