canard -- Hayden

ca·nard (k-närd)

n.

1. An unfounded or false, deliberately misleading story.

2.

a. A short winglike control surface projecting from the fuselage of an aircraft, such as a space shuttle, mounted forward of the main wing and serving as a horizontal stabilizer.

b. An aircraft whose horizontal stabilizing surfaces are forward of the main wing.

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[French, duck, canard, probably from the phrase vendre un canard à moitié, to sell half a duck, to swindle, from Old French quanart, duck, from caner, to cackle, of imitative origin.]

 

Hayden recognizes political canards on both sides of the aisle, especially in the election season.