trunnion

T1R1U1N1N1I1O1N1
/ˈtɹʌn.jən/

noun

One of the short stubby bearings on either side of a cannon; a pintle.

UncommonScrabble 8

Meanings

nountrunnion (plural trunnions)

plural trunnions · alternative trunion

  1. engineeringOne of the short stubby bearings on either side of a cannon; a pintle.
  2. engineeringA similar rotational bearing comprising a rotating arc or ring sliding in the groove of a stationary arc, used in machinery to allow a workpiece to be moved relative to a fixed tool.
  3. engineeringA shaft, held by a bearing, at each end or side of a rotatable object.

    To discharge, the conveyor is rotated laterally on its trunnions and the metal flows into a ladle carried on a travelling crane, which conveys it to the converter.

    1964 December, “Beyond the Channel: Belgium: Conveyance of molten iron”, in Modern Railways, page 432
  4. automotiveA similar rotational bearing used in automotive suspensions.

Origin

  1. Frenchtrognon“core, stump”
  2. Englishtrunnion

From French trognon (“core, stump”).

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with trunnion

All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

trunnion. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/trunnion

MLA

“trunnion.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/trunnion. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “trunnion,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/trunnion.

Source: trunnion on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.