truss

1 of 2

verb

ˈtrəs 

trussed; trussing; trusses

transitive verb

1

a

: to secure tightly : bind

b

: to arrange for cooking by binding close the wings or legs of (a fowl)

2

: to support, strengthen, or stiffen by or as if by a truss

trusser noun

truss

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: an assemblage of members (such as beams) forming a rigid framework

b

: bracket sense 1

2

: a device worn to reduce a hernia by pressure

3

: an iron band around a lower mast with an attachment by which a yard is secured to the mast

4

: a compact flower or fruit cluster

Synonyms

Verb

• band
• bind
• tie

Examples of truss in a Sentence

Verb

She stuffed and trussed the duck.

after stuffing the turkey, the chef quickly trussed it so the forcemeat wouldn't fall out during roasting

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

To make carving even easier, remove the wishbone, stuffing or trussing. —Jennifer Borresen, USA TODAY, 26 Nov. 2024

She’s got the demi-god trapped and trussed up for reasons soon to be revealed. —David Fear, Rolling Stone, 26 Nov. 2024

Noun

In Wayne’s greenhouse—where tomato seedings unfurled each spring—we’d gather for Christmas dinner, the trusses wound with twinkle lights and the long table laid with votives. —Anna Noyes, Bon Appétit, 16 Dec. 2024

The original trusses had lasted for the better part of a millennium, the very definition of sustainable architecture. —Michael Kimmelman, New York Times, 6 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English to pack, load, bind, from Anglo-French trusser, trousser, from Vulgar Latin *torsare, from *torsus twisted — more at torsade

First Known Use

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Phrases Containing truss

• truss bridge

Kids Definition

truss

1 of 2 verb

ˈtrəs 

1

a

: to tie up tightly : bind

b

: to tie the wings or legs of for cooking

truss a turkey

2

: to support, strengthen, or stiffen by a truss

truss

2 of 2 noun

1

: a rigid framework of beams, bars, or rods

a truss for a roof

2

: a device worn to hold a hernia in place

Medical Definition

truss

noun

ˈtrəs 

: a device worn to reduce a hernia by pressure