trestle

noun

tres·​tle ˈtre-səl How to pronounce trestle (audio)
 also  ˈtrə-
variants or less commonly tressel
1
: a braced frame serving as a support
2
3
: a braced framework of timbers, piles, or steelwork for carrying a road or railroad over a depression

Examples of trestle in a Sentence

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.
Both offer gentle grades, restored trestles, and beautiful river or forest views. Erin Gifford, Southern Living, 31 May 2025 Keaton and crew built a 215-ft-long (65.5-m) wooden trestle across the river. Joe Salas june 07, New Atlas, 7 June 2025 The Exeter Police Department said in a statement that emergency crews responded to a wooded area of the train tracks outbound from the Newfields Road trestle on Monday, June 2, after train officials reported an incident. David Chiu, People.com, 4 June 2025 Their recent expansion—developing the historic-but-vacant trestle corridor—adds zhuzh to the city, with a four-season biergarten, an adjacent craft cocktail lounge, and more. Jacqueline Kehoe, Travel + Leisure, 21 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for trestle

Word History

Etymology

Middle English trestel, from Anglo-French, from Vulgar Latin *trastellum, from Latin transtillum, diminutive of transtrum traverse beam, from trans across — more at through entry 1

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Trestle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trestle. Accessed 26 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

trestle

noun
tres·​tle ˈtres-əl How to pronounce trestle (audio)
1
: a braced frame consisting usually of a horizontal piece with spreading legs at each end that supports something (as the top of a table)
2
: a structure of timbers or steel for carrying a road or railroad over a valley

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