truss

1 of 2

verb

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
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

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
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.
Verb
The Gloss Bridge trussed the look up more with a wet effect gloss, using Gloss Luxe in shade 01 Disclosure. Marie Bladt, Vogue, 6 Mar. 2025 While all of this is going on, Lasher is being trussed for his wedding to his one true love. Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 16 Feb. 2025
Noun
The club’s tour guide has ensured an extra flourish to her uniform for today, her nails, which are painted with the motifs of Archibald Leitch’s iconic criss-crossing steel trusses that support Goodison’s stands. Greg O'Keeffe, New York Times, 14 May 2025 During a May 1, 2025 spacewalk, NASA astronaut and Expedition 73 crew member Nichole Ayers snapped this photo looking back at the forward section of the International Space Station from the port, or left, side of its backbone truss. Robert Z. Pearlman, Space.com, 6 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for truss

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of truss was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Truss.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/truss. Accessed 20 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

truss

1 of 2 verb
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
: a device worn to reduce a hernia by pressure

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