Definition
A wing whose chord (the distance from leading edge to trailing edge) decreases progressively from the wing root at the fuselage to the wing tip. The leading edge, trailing edge, or both may be angled to produce the taper.
Plain English
A wing that gets narrower from front to back as it goes out toward the tip, so the tip is a smaller wing section than the part attached to the fuselage.
Context Anchor
Seen in visual maneuver discussions, including eights on pylons, where the pilot uses the wing and outside references to judge position.
Derivation
From the everyday word 'taper,' meaning to gradually narrow toward one end — like a candle or a pencil tip. The wing literally narrows as it extends outward.
Why Pilots Care
Tapered wings improve lift distribution and reduce induced drag, giving smoother handling and better visibility of the pylon during the maneuver.
Intuition Check
Tapered-wing does not mean the wing is simply thin. Here it means the wing becomes narrower in front-to-back width as it goes outward.
Example Sentence 1
The Piper Cherokee Warrior has a tapered-wing design, while the older Cherokee 140 used a constant-chord 'Hershey bar' wing.
Example Sentence 2
Because the airplane had tapered wings, the student needed less rudder correction while pivoting around the pylon.