fuselage

[fyoo-suh-lahzh, -lij, -zuh-, fyoo-suh-lahzh, -zuh-]

noun

Aeronautics.

1. the complete central structure to which the wing, tail surfaces, and engines are attached on an airplane.

fuselage

/ ˈfjuːzɪˌlɑːʒ /

noun

1. the main body of an aircraft, excluding the wings, tailplane, and fin

Word History and Origins

Origin of fuselage¹

1905–10; < French, equivalent to fusel ( é ) spindle-shaped (derivative of fuseau spindle; fusee ) + -age -age

Word History and Origins

Origin of fuselage¹

C20: from French, from fuseler to shape like a spindle, from Old French fusel spindle; see _fusee

Example Sentences

Regulators, blaming Boeing’s emphasis on production over quality, imposed the production limit after a fuselage panel blew off an Alaska Airlines jet midair in early 2024.

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Preliminary information showed that the wing of the Roanoke-bound plane made contact with the fuselage of the plane arriving from Charlotte, Delta said.

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Inside, skylights cut into the rounded ceiling suggest a fuselage bathed in daylight.

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Shortly afterwards Russia's emergencies ministry said a Russian civil aviation helicopter had spotted burning fuselage from the plane.

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The UK supplies between 13-15% of the components used in the jet, including ejector seats, rear fuselage, active interceptor systems, targeting lasers and weapon release cables.

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Related Words

• frame 
• material 
• skeleton