What is "evacuation slide"

n. (context aviation English) An inflatable slide used to evacuate passengers from an aircraft.

An evacuation slide is an inflatable slide used to evacuate an aircraft quickly. An escape slide is required on all commercial (passenger carrying) aircraft where the door sill height is such that, in the event of an evacuation, passengers would be unable to step down from the door uninjured ( Federal Aviation Administration requires slides on all aircraft doors where the floor is or more above the ground).

Escape slides are packed and held within the door structure inside the slide bustle, a protruding part of the inside of an aircraft door that varies in size depending on both the size of the aircraft and the size of the door.

Many slides are also designed to double as life rafts in case of a water landing.