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chas·sis

(chăsē)

n. pl. chas·sis (-ēz)

1. The rectangular, usually steel frame, supported on springs and attached to the axles, that holds the body and motor of an automotive vehicle.

2. The landing gear of an aircraft, including the wheels, skids, floats, and other structures that support the aircraft on land or water.

3. The frame on which a gun carriage moves forward and backward.

4. The framework to which the components of a radio, television, or other electronic devices are attached.

[French châssis, frame, from Old French, from Vulgar Latin *capsīcium, from Latin capsa, box.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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