plural trousseaux ˈtrü-(ˌ)sōz How to pronounce trousseau (audio)
trü-ˈsōz
or trousseaus
: the personal possessions of a bride usually including clothes, accessories, and household linens and wares

Did you know?

Trousseau is a descendant of the French verb trousser, meaning "to truss" or "to tuck up." Fittingly, a bride might truss, or bundle, a variety of items as part of her trousseau—and it is not too surprising that truss is also a trousser descendant. A less common descendant of trousser is retroussé, meaning "turned up," as in a "retroussé nose." The ultimate origin of trousser is likely the Latin verb torquēre, which means "to twist." Torquēre has many descendants in the language, among them a number of "tort" words (distort, contort, retort, extort), torque, and torture.

Examples of trousseau in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The visual splendor of the spoiled brat’s college trousseau certainly casts a cinematic spell. Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 10 Dec. 2024 Because of the varied nature of her nominations, with some awards presented during the prime-time show and others during last weekend’s Creative Arts ceremony, Rudolph had to plan a trousseau of sorts. Laia Garcia-Furtado, Vogue, 16 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

French, from Old French, diminutive of trousse bundle, from trousser to truss

First Known Use

1817, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of trousseau was in 1817

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Dictionary Entries Near trousseau

Cite this Entry

“Trousseau.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trousseau. Accessed 6 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

plural trousseaux -ˌsōz How to pronounce trousseau (audio) or trousseaus
: the clothes and personal possessions (as household linens) of a bride
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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