fuselage
UK[ˈfjuːzəlɑːʒ]US[ˈfjuːsəlɑːʒ]
n
the main body of an aircraft, to which the wings and tail are attached.
Etymology
the term 'fuselage' entered english from french in the early 20th century, coinciding with the dawn of aviation. it was borrowed directly to describe the elongated, central body of an airplane. the french word 'fuselage' is built on 'fuselé', an adjective meaning "tapered like a spindle," which perfectly captures the streamlined shape of early aircraft bodies. this imagery connects back through old french 'fuseau' to the latin 'fusus', a tool used for spinning thread, whose slender, tapered form provided the perfect metaphor for the aerodynamic design of an airplane's main structure.
Analysis
the word is a loanword from french, adopted as a single unit. its french source is 'fuselage', derived from 'fuselé' meaning "spindle-shaped," which in turn comes from 'fuseau' meaning "spindle." the ultimate origin is the latin 'fusus' meaning "spindle."
Examples
the aircraft's fuselage was painted a bright red.
engineers inspected the fuselage for any signs of damage after the rough landing.
the new design features a wider fuselage for increased passenger comfort.