Definition of "monocoque" [monocoque]

• A metal structure, such as an aircraft, in which the skin absorbs all or most of the stresses to which the body is subjected. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• ""We can build a lighter frame if we stress the plywood in monocoque construction.""
• "This is a $5500 frame, custom made carbon monocoque, which is French for "single chicken"."
• "To put things into perspective, OObject's list illustrates 15 different structures described as monocoque-from aircraft to soda ..."