undercarriage
undercarriage Lexical Profile
undercarriage Game Scores & Validity
• noun
The wheeled structure and associated suspension components beneath an aircraft that support its weight when on the ground and are used for takeoff, landing, and taxiing.
"The pilot lowered the aircraft's undercarriage as the plane began its final descent toward the runway."
The supporting framework, chassis, wheels, and suspension system underneath a motor vehicle, railway car, or tracked construction machine.
"After driving along salted winter roads, you should wash the undercarriage of your car to prevent rust."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the mid-19th century as a compound of the prefix 'under-' and 'carriage' (from Old Northern French 'cariage', meaning a vehicle or act of carrying), originally denoting the supporting framework beneath a horse-drawn wagon before being adopted for aircraft landing gear in the early 20th century.