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chassis

SHAS-ee /ˈʃæsi/

nounB2IELTSTOEFL

technicalprofessional

The base frame of a motor vehicle or other wheeled object.

While often used interchangeably with 'frame,' the chassis specifically refers to the load-bearing part of the object that supports the engine and body.

The story behind the word. The word 'chassis' shares a common ancestor with 'case' and 'sash.' It originally referred to a window frame. By the late 19th century, as the first 'horseless carriages' were being built, engineers adopted the term to describe the rigid frame that held the mechanical components together.

Word relationships

framework: Framework is more general; chassis is specific to vehicles and electronics.
undercarriage: Undercarriage often refers to the landing gear of an aircraft or the parts beneath a vehicle, rather than the frame itself.

bodywork: Bodywork is the outer shell, whereas the chassis is the internal support.

Commonly confused with

fuselage: A fuselage is the main body of an aircraft, while a chassis is the frame of a land vehicle.

Word family

chassis (noun): The plural form is spelled the same but pronounced 'SHAS-eez'.

Collocations

rolling chassis
chassis stiffness
aluminum chassis

Example sentences

"The chassis was of the usual type, with a channel-section frame and semi-elliptic springs." Describing a vintage vehicle's construction.
"Aluminum is increasingly used in the chassis to reduce weight without sacrificing structural integrity." Modern manufacturing.

Memory hook

Think of a 'chassis' as the 'case' that holds the car's 'guts.' The chassis is the skeleton; without it, the car is just a pile of parts.

When not to use

Do not use 'chassis' to refer to the exterior shell or 'body' of the car; it is the internal skeleton.

Fun facts

In early cars, the chassis was often made of wood before steel became the standard.
The term is also used in electronics to describe the metal frame on which components are mounted.