Thanks, wow, wwh, and WC! (Wordcrazy, not water closet!) The cause of my query was an article in a UK-based radio-controlled model jet airplane magazine. In an article on soaking balsa wood in ammonia solution for molding purposes, the author was explaining that molded balsa could be dried in an airing closet. He did comment that it required the permission of the missus!

So, now the secret's out: Aside from words, I also play with little toy airplanes. As the saying goes, "You tell the men from the boys by the price of their toys."