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

Investigators have recovered the helicopter’s main fuselage, including its cockpit and cabin, the forward portion of its tail boom, its horizontal stabilizer finlets and its vertical fin, the safety board announced Saturday night. —John Annese, New York Daily News, 13 Apr. 2025

New York City helicopter crash latest: Authorities search for answers after 6 killed The main fuselage, including the cockpit and cabin, the forward portion of the tail boom, the horizontal stabilizer finlets and the vertical fin have all been recovered, according to the agency. —Riley Hoffman, ABC News, 12 Apr. 2025

Two children were taken to Jersey City Medical Center, where they were later pronounced dead, Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop said on X. The aircraft’s main fuselage was retrieved from the river on Thursday evening, and dive operations continued Friday, according to the NTSB. —John Miller, CNN Money, 11 Apr. 2025

The original plans called for the 8000 to have a smaller fuselage, but the update includes the same fuselage length as the 7500 with a similar four-zone cabin layout. —Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 8 Apr. 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