Definition of "gasbag"
gasbag
noun
plural gasbags
A bag or bladder to hold a reservoir of gas, as in a hot-air balloon.
Quotations
By this method of construction a considerable amount of support can be imparted to the gasbag, though it does not dispense with the services of the ballonet, as does the entirely rigid type.
1914, Eric [Henry] Stuart Bruce, Aircraft in War (Daily Telegraph War Books), London: Hodder & Stoughton, page 24
A novel robotic gasbag polishing technique based on flexible polishing principle has been presented by S.M. Ji et al., which can make polishing process more stable and effective because the rubber gasbag provides cushioning action and almost all abrasive particles in the contact area are involved in the process of material removal on mould surface, etc […]
2009, Shiming Ji et al., “Magnetorheological Flexible Gasbag Polishing Technique”, in Bo Zhao et al., editors, Advances in Grinding and Abrasive Technology XV: Selected, Peer Reviewed Papers from the 15th Conference of Abrasive Technology in China, 15th–17th August, 2009, Zhengzhou, China (Key Engineering Materials; 416), Zurich: Trans Tech Publications, page 584
(figuratively) A person who is overly garrulous or prone to making empty, unsupportable statements; a windbag.
Quotations
Not that the Reverend James is absolutely a pretentious gasbag any more than Marchbanks is an inspired prophet. He has a definite, a positive part in the world's work.
1911, Edward Everett Hale, Jr., Dramatists of To-day: Rostand, Hauptmann, Sudermann, Pinero, Shaw, Phillips, Maeterlinck; being an Informal Discussion of their Significant Work, 6th rev. and enl. edition, New York, N.Y.: Henry Holt and Company, page 124
Most, however, do real work, undistracted by meetings and gasbag colleagues.
2012 October 13, “Out of sight, out of mind: People who work from home are less likely to be promoted”, in The Economist, archived from the original on 20 March 2016
verb
third-person singular simple present gasbags, present participle gasbagging, simple past and past participle gasbagged
(intransitive) To speak foolishly, pompously, or at length; to blather.
Quotations
"You're a swell at it. I'll allow that. And I'll provide the gas-bagging." / "The gas-bagging?" I inquired. "What exactly do you mean?" / "What do I mean, you dear old sober-sides?" said Lyne. “I mean that I will do all the bow-wowing […]"
1910, Pearson's Magazine, volume XXX, number II, London: C. Arthur Pearson, page 71