pucelage

n. [ F. fusel spindle-shaped + -age; fr. L. fusus spindle. ] (Aëronautics) The central, approximately cylindrical portion of an airplane which carries the passengers, crew, and cargo. It usually forms the main structural portion of an airplane, and to it are typically attached the wings, tail, and sometimes the engines. In single-propeller airplanes, the propeller is typically fixed at the front of the fuselage, although variants have been produced with the propeller at the rear. Some airplanes have no fuselage, properly so called.
Syn. -- body. [ PJC ]