fuselage

noun

fu·​se·​lage ˈfyü-sə-ˌläzh 

-zə-

: the central body portion of an aircraft designed to accommodate the crew and the passengers or cargo see airplane illustration

Examples of fuselage in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Alaska million milers also get a customized luggage tag made from the fuselage of a vintage Alaska or Hawaiian Airlines aircraft. —Katherine Fan, AFAR Media, 29 Aug. 2025

By redistributing volume along the fuselage, especially with a long and slender nose, designers can stretch and stagger pressure rises, allowing pressure to reach the ground as gentle steps rather than a sudden spike. —Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2025

There, mechanics repaired small gaps at the fuselage joins of 122 planes. —Lauren Rosenblatt, Chicago Tribune, 27 Aug. 2025

Construction of the Delta Class SpaceShip fuselage is expected to be completed late this year or early 2026. —Leonard David, Space.com, 12 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French, from fuselé "spindle-shaped" (from past participle of fuseler "to give the shape of a spindle to," going back to Middle French, derivative of fusel "spindle," diminutive of fus "spindle," going back to Latin fūsus, of obscure origin) + -age -age

First Known Use

1909, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for fuselage

• auge
• hodge
• podge
• dislodge
• hodgepodge

Kids Definition

fuselage

noun

fu·​se·​lage ˈfyü-sə-ˌläzh 

ˈfyü-zə-

: the central body portion of an airplane that holds the crew, passengers, and cargo