/ahm'peuh nahzh", em'-/ ; Fr. /ahonn pe nannzh"/ , n. , pl. empennages /-nah"zhiz/ ; Fr. /-nannzh"/ .
the rear part of an airplane or airship, usually comprising the stabilizer, elevator, vertical fin, and rudder.
[ 1905-10; empenn ( er ) to feather an arrow ( em- EM- 1 + -penner, deriv. of penne feather; see PEN 1 ) + -age -AGE ]