A Strut Holds a Structure Up and Also Describes a Walk
To strut is to walk proudly. A strut is also a rigid support, and the two senses grew apart long ago.
To strut is to walk with a stiff proud gait, and a strut is a rigid bar that supports a structure. The two come from one root meaning stiff or rigid: a strutting walk is stiff-legged, and a structural strut is a stiff member that resists compression. Engineers distinguish carefully — a *strut* is pushed, a *tie* is pulled. *Strut your stuff* is American, from the 1900s, and originally described a dance.
- To walk proudly. *Strutting about.*
- A rigid support. *A roof strut.*
- Strut your stuff — show off. *Strut your stuff.*
- Tie — a member in tension. *A tie.*
- Old English — *strutian*, to stand rigid. *The source.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb | strut | Strut about. |
| Past | strutted | Strutted. |
| Noun | strut | A strut. |
| Plural | struts | Struts. |
| Related | tie | A tie. |
- He strutted across the stage.Walk.
- The struts carry the roof load.Engineering.
- Time to strut your stuff.Idiom.
Struts and ties in structures
- Strut — a member in compression, being pushed
- Tie — a member in tension, being pulled
- Beam — carries loads across a span by bending
- Column — a vertical strut
- Truss — a frame of struts and ties working together
Old English *strutian*, to stand out stiffly, of Germanic origin, related to Danish *strutte*, to be puffed up.
What is the difference between a strut and a tie?
A strut resists compression, being pushed at both ends. A tie resists tension, being pulled.
Why does strut mean both walking and a support?
Both come from a root meaning stiff or rigid. A strutting walk is stiff-legged; a structural strut is a stiff member.