chassis
UK[ˈʃæsi]US[ˈtʃæsi]
n
the metal frame of a vehicle, on which the body is built
n
the frame that supports the structure of something such as a computer or television
Etymology
The word "chassis" entered English in the early 20th century from French, where it originally meant "frame" or "case." The French term derived from Old French chassiz, meaning "frame, support," which itself came from Vulgar Latin capsicum, a container or case, ultimately tracing back to the Latin capsa, meaning "box" or "receptacle." This etymological journey from a general container to the specific supporting frame of a vehicle illustrates a classic semantic narrowing. The logic connects the concept of a rigid, enclosing structure (a box) to the modern engineering sense of a foundational framework that houses and supports mechanical components.
Examples
the car's chassis was damaged in the collision.
the technician mounted the motherboard onto the computer chassis.
the new model features a lightweight aluminum chassis for better performance.