trussing

1. gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of truss

plural trussings

1. architectureThe timbers, etc., that form a truss.

   1849-1850, John Weale, Rudimentary Dictionary of Terms used in Architecture, Building, and Engineering Beds (Trussing) were beds which packed into chests , for travelling ; and , considering the frequent removals , these must have been the most convenient kind .

2. The art of stiffening or bracing a set of timbers, etc., by putting in struts, ties, etc., until it has something of the character of a truss.
3. obsoleteThe act of a hawk or other bird of prey in seizing its quarry and soaring into the air with it.

1. not comparablegovernmentIn the act of seizing (something).

   A hawk trussing.

   1894, Henry Gough, James Parker, A Glossary of Terms Used in Heraldry, page 247

   2 more examples

   Sable, a falcon or, his wings expanded, trussing a mallard argent, on a chief of the latter, a cross botoné[…]

   1845, Hugh Clark, An Introduction to Heraldry ... Thirteenth edition. greatly improved, page 40

   Examples of this will be found in the arms of Madden ["Sable, a hawk or, trussing a mallard proper, on a chief of the second a cross botonny gules"], and in the crests of Graham, Cawston, and Yerburgh.

   1909, Arthur Charles Fox-Davies, A Complete Guide to Heraldry, page 242