ossature

[ os-uh-cher, -choor ]

noun

1. the structure or framework supporting a building or sculpture.
2. the arrangement of bones in the skeleton or a body part.

Word History and Origins

Origin of ossature¹

First recorded in 1830–35; from French, from Latin os “bone” (stem oss- ) + French noun suffix -ature, modeled on musculature ( def )