fuselage

noun

fu·​se·​lage ˈfyü-sə-ˌläzh 

-zə-

: the central body portion of an aircraft designed to accommodate the crew and the passengers or cargo see airplane illustration

Examples of fuselage in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The original plans called for the 8000 to have a smaller fuselage, but the update includes the same fuselage length as the 7500 with a similar four-zone cabin layout. —Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 8 Apr. 2025

Its parts are used in engines, wings, landing gears and fuselages, including titanium fasteners used in composite structures such as on the Airbus A350 and Boeing 787. —Jerrold Lundquist, Forbes.com, 30 Mar. 2025

The aircraft has four engines and a radar dome mounted on the fuselage, and its official name is unknown. —Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Mar. 2025

On touchdown, investigators determined the side-stay attached to the aircraft’s right main landing gear fractured, the gear retracted, and the right wing broke between the landing gear and fuselage, which is the central part of the plane. —Alexandra Skores, CNN, 20 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French, from fuselé "spindle-shaped" (from past participle of fuseler "to give the shape of a spindle to," going back to Middle French, derivative of fusel "spindle," diminutive of fus "spindle," going back to Latin fūsus, of obscure origin) + -age -age

First Known Use

1909, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for fuselage

• auge
• hodge
• podge
• dislodge
• hodgepodge

Kids Definition

fuselage

noun

fu·​se·​lage ˈfyü-sə-ˌläzh 

ˈfyü-zə-

: the central body portion of an airplane that holds the crew, passengers, and cargo