Karkass

Karkass is a term used in several languages to denote a frame, skeleton, or structural backbone of an object. In Estonian, the word karkass (with a doubled final s) specifically means the internal framework that supports a structure, such as the wooden or metal skeleton of a building, a vehicle, or a piece of furniture. In Turkish, a closely related form karkas (without the final s) is used in similar contexts to refer to a frame or skeleton of a construction, machine, or body. The core idea across languages is the same: karkass refers to the underlying support system rather than the exterior shell.

Uses and meanings

In construction and architecture, karkass refers to the framing system that supports walls, roofs, and cladding. It is the backbone that determines a structure’s stability and shape. In carpentry and furniture making, the karkass constitutes the internal frame upon which surfaces and finishes are mounted. In engineering and manufacturing, the karkas or karkass serves as the chassis or main load-bearing framework of vehicles and machinery. In biology or anatomy, the term can be used metaphorically or in translated contexts to denote an organism’s skeleton or central supporting structure.

Spelling and usage notes

The form karkass is typical in Estonian, while karkas is common in Turkish and several other languages. Variants exist across languages, all tied to the same core concept of a frame or skeleton that provides structural support. See also Carcass for the unrelated sense of a dead animal, and Каркас in Cyrillic-script languages for the related concept of a frame.

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