truss

noun

1. A bandage and belt used to hold a hernia in place.

   “A truss may keep the abdominal contents from protruding into the hernial sac; however, this won't cure the hernia.”

2. A structure made up of one or more triangular units made from straight beams of wood or metal, which is used to support a structure as in a roof or bridge.

   “The weight of the wrought-ironwork in each of the trusses is 460 tons, inclusive of the longitudinal and cross girders weighing 130 tons.”

3. A triangular bracket.
4. An old English farming measurement. One truss of straw equalled 36 pounds, a truss of old hay equalled 56 pounds, a truss of new hay equalled 60 pounds, and 36 trusses equalled one load.
5. (obsolete)A bundle; a package.

   “bearing a truss of trifles at his back”

6. (historical)A padded jacket or dress worn under armour, to protect the body from the effects of friction.

   “Puts off his palmer's weed unto his truss, which bore / The stains of ancient arms.”

7. (historical)Part of a woman's dress; a stomacher.
8. A tuft of flowers or cluster of fruits formed at the top of the main stem of certain plants.
9. The rope or iron used to keep the centre of a yard to the mast.

verb

1. (transitive)To tie up a bird before cooking it.
2. (transitive)To secure or bind with ropes.

   “Very largely haue I inueighed againſt this vice [gluttony] elſvvhere, vvherefore heere I vvill truſſe it vp more ſurcinct;^([sic – meaning succinct]) […]”

3. (transitive)To support.
4. To take fast hold of; to seize and hold firmly; to pounce upon.

   “who trussing me as eagle doth his prey”

5. To strengthen or stiffen, as a beam or girder, by means of a brace or braces.
6. (archaic, slang)To execute by hanging; to hang; usually with up.

   “If they must truss me, I will repent of nothing”

name

1. A surname from Old French.

   “In her speech to the Atlantic Council, Truss will say: “Putin has launched a full-frontal assault not just on the Ukrainian people, but also on the very foundation of our societies and the rules by which we coexist – sovereignty, democracy, the UN charter.”