strut

¹

[struht]

verb (used without object)

strutted, strutting 

1. to walk with a vain, pompous bearing, as with head erect and chest thrown out, as if expecting to impress observers.

   Synonyms: flourish, parade

noun

1. the act of strutting.

2. a strutting walk or gait.

strut

²

[struht]

noun

1. any of various structural members, as in trusses, primarily intended to resist longitudinal compression.

verb (used with object)

strutted, strutting 

1. to brace or support by means of a strut or struts.

strut

/ strʌt /

verb

1. (intr) to walk in a pompous manner; swagger

2. (tr) to support or provide with struts

3. informal,  to behave or perform in a proud and confident manner; show off

noun

1. a structural member used mainly in compression, esp as part of a framework

2. an affected, proud, or stiff walk

Other Word Forms

• strutter noun
• strutting adjective
• struttingly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of strut¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English strouten “to protrude stiffly, swell, bluster,” Old English strūtian “to struggle,” derivative of unattested strūt (whence Middle English strut “strife”)

Origin of strut²

First recorded in 1565–75; obscurely akin to strut ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of strut¹

C14 strouten (in the sense: swell, stand out; C16: to walk stiffly), from Old English strūtian to stand stiffly; related to Low German strutt stiff

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. strut one's stuff, to dress, behave, perform, etc., one's best in order to impress others; show off.

Synonym Study

Strut and swagger refer especially to carriage in walking. Strut implies swelling pride or pompousness; to strut is to walk with a stiff, pompous, seemingly affected or self-conscious gait: A turkey struts about the barnyard. Swagger implies a domineering, sometimes jaunty, superiority or challenge, and a self-important manner: to swagger down the street.

Example Sentences

But by the time Blanc struts in nearly 40 minutes into the film, we’ve forgotten we’ve been waiting for the franchise to resurrect its lead.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Miss Mexico was crowned Miss Universe in Thailand on Friday, strutting to victory after the beauty pageant's host had publicly chastised her, among several dramatic missteps in the run-up to the final stage.

Read more on Barron's

Beowulf strutted around the room and flapped his arms like wings, until his brother shot him a look.

Read more on Literature

“I’m working late ’cause I’m a singer,” she sang as she strutted down a runway jutting onto the arena floor.

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At a press conference packed with reporters and spectators, the Soviet leader strutted onto the stage, clapping his hands as some in the audience hooted and booed.

Read more on Literature

Related Words

• prance 
• sashay 
• stalk 
• stride 
• swagger