I. ˈtrəs transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-es )
Etymology: Middle English trussen, from Old French trousser, tourser, probably from (assumed) Vulgar Latin torciare, from torca bundle, torch — more at torch
1.
a. : to secure closely or tightly : bind , tie
attacked and trussed a guard — Springfield (Massachusetts) Union
— often used with up
the victim, a middle-aged woman, had been expertly trussed up — E.D.Radin
b. : to arrange for cooking by binding the wings or legs of (as fowl) close to the body
c. : to bind together the staves of (a barrel) with hoops to force into the desired shape and assure tightness of joints
2. archaic : to pack into a bundle
3.
a. : to put clothes on (the body) so as to confine tightly
gentlemen trussed in broadcloth to the Adam's apple — American Guide Series: New York City
b. archaic : to fasten or arrange the clothing of ; specifically : to draw tight and tie firmly (as laces or strings)
c. archaic : to arrange (the hair) in a neat fashion : dress
4. archaic : hang — often used with up
5. : to take fast hold of ; especially : to seize and bear off — used of a hawk or other bird of prey
6. : to support by a truss : strengthen or stiffen (as a beam or girder) by a brace or braces especially so as to constitute a truss
II. noun
( -es )
Etymology: Middle English trusse, from Old French trousse, tourse, from trousser, tourser to truss
1.
a. : something bound or packed together : bundle , pack
bearing a truss of trifles at his back — Edmund Spenser
b. Britain : any of various units of quantity for hay or straw: as
(1) : a bundle of old hay weighing 56 pounds
(2) : a bundle of new hay weighing 60 pounds
(3) : a bundle of straw weighing 36 pounds
2. : a connection to secure a yard to a mast ; specifically : an iron band around a lower mast with a pivoted attachment to a lower yard at the center to keep the yard in position and allow it to be braced around
3.
a. : bracket 1
b. : an assemblage of members (as beams, bars, rods) typically arranged in a triangle or combination of triangles to form a rigid framework (as for supporting a load over a wide area) that cannot be deformed by the application of exterior force without deformation of one or more of its members
c. : a tripod of logs or timbers on which hay is piled for curing in the field
4. : a device worn to hold a hernia in place
5. : a compact flower cluster (as in the lilac) or fruit cluster (as in the tomato)
III. adjective
archaic : compactly framed