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chassis

[chas-ee, -is, shas-ee]
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noun, plural chas·sis [chas-eez, shas-] /ˈtʃæs iz, ˈʃæs-/.

Automotive. the frame, wheels, and machinery of a motor vehicle, on which the body is supported.
Ordnance. the frame or railway on which a gun carriage moves backward and forward.
the main landing gear of an aircraft; that portion of the landing gear that supports an aircraft.
Radio and Television. a frame for mounting the circuit components of a radio or television set.
a construction forming the sides, top, and bottom of a cabinet, showcase, or the like.

RELATED WORDS

frame, undercarriage, body, case, skeleton

Origin of chassis

1655–65; < French châssis frame; akin to chase2
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for chassis

Contemporary Examples of chassis

  • The prototype Land Rover was designed by a Jeep owner and built on a Jeep chassis.

    The Daily Beast logo
    Nationalism on Four Wheels

    Clive Irving

    October 18, 2014

Historical Examples of chassis

  • Jason carefully set the parts out on the chassis before he spoke.

    Deathworld

    Harry Harrison

  • Hugh gripped the side of the chassis as the secret was mentioned.

    King of Ranleigh

    F. S. (Frederick Sadlier) Brereton

  • So long as the car body would stand on the chassis it was not repaired.

    The Iron Ration

    George Abel Schreiner

  • It was a large wagon with a sort of house built on the chassis.

    Ticktock and Jim

    Keith Robertson

  • You have slept at the wheel and in the chassis, after hours of work.

British Dictionary definitions for chassis

chassis

noun plural -sis (-sɪz)

the steel frame, wheels, engine, and mechanical parts of a motor vehicle, to which the body is attached
electronics a mounting for the circuit components of an electrical or electronic device, such as a radio or television
the landing gear of an aircraft
obsolete a wooden framework for a window, screen, etc
the frame on which a cannon carriage moves backwards and forwards
slang the body of a person, esp a woman

Word Origin for chassis

C17 (meaning: window frame): from French châssis frame, from Vulgar Latin capsicum (unattested), ultimately from Latin capsa case ²
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for chassis
n.

"base frame of an automobile," 1903, American English; earlier "window frame" (1660s), from French châssis "frame," Old French chassiz (13c.) "frame, framework, setting," from chasse "case, box, eye socket, snail's shell, setting (of a jewel)," from Latin capsa "box, case;" see case (n.2) + French -is, collective suffix for a number of parts taken together. Cf. sash (n.2).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper