Truss rod

Truss Truss, n. [OE. trusse, F. trousse, OF. also tourse; perhaps fr. L. tryrsus stalk, stem. Cf. {Thyrsus}, {Torso}, {Trousers}, {Trousseau}.] 1. A bundle; a package; as, a truss of grass. --Fabyan. [1913 Webster]

Bearing a truss of trifles at his back. --Spenser. [1913 Webster]

Note: A truss of hay in England is 56 lbs. of old and 60 lbs. of new hay; a truss of straw is 36 lbs. [1913 Webster]

2. A padded jacket or dress worn under armor, to protect the body from the effects of friction; also, a part of a woman's dress; a stomacher. [Obs.] --Nares. [1913 Webster]

Puts off his palmer's weed unto his truss, which bore The stains of ancient arms. --Drayton. [1913 Webster]

3. (Surg.) A bandage or apparatus used in cases of hernia, to keep up the reduced parts and hinder further protrusion, and for other purposes. [1913 Webster]

4. (Bot.) A tuft of flowers formed at the top of the main stalk, or stem, of certain plants. [1913 Webster]

5. (Naut.) The rope or iron used to keep the center of a yard to the mast. [1913 Webster]

6. (Arch. & Engin.) An assemblage of members of wood or metal, supported at two points, and arranged to transmit pressure vertically to those points, with the least possible strain across the length of any member. Architectural trusses when left visible, as in open timber roofs, often contain members not needed for construction, or are built with greater massiveness than is requisite, or are composed in unscientific ways in accordance with the exigencies of style. [1913 Webster]

{Truss rod}, a rod which forms the tension member of a trussed beam, or a tie rod in a truss. [1913 Webster]