Strut

strut
    n 1: a proud stiff pompous gait [syn: {strut}, {prance},
         {swagger}]
    2: brace consisting of a bar or rod used to resist longitudinal
       compression
    v 1: to walk with a lofty proud gait, often in an attempt to
         impress others; "He struts around like a rooster in a hen
         house" [syn: {tittup}, {swagger}, {ruffle}, {prance},
         {strut}, {sashay}, {cock}]
    

Strut \Strut\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Strutted}; p. pr. & vb. n.
   {Strutting}.] [OE. struten, strouten, to swell; akin to G.
   strozen to be swelled, to be puffed up, to strut, Dan.
   strutte.]
   1. To swell; to bulge out. [R.]
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            The bellying canvas strutted with the gale.
                                                  --Dryden.
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   2. To walk with a lofty, proud gait, and erect head; to walk
      with affected dignity.
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            Does he not hold up his head, . . . and strut in his
            gait?                                 --Shak.
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Strut \Strut\, n. [For senses 2 & 3 cf. LG. strutt rigid.]
   1. The act of strutting; a pompous step or walk.
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   2. (Arch.) In general, any piece of a frame which resists
      thrust or pressure in the direction of its own length. See
      {Brace}, and Illust. of {Frame}, and {Roof}.
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   3. (Engin.) Any part of a machine or structure, of which the
      principal function is to hold things apart; a brace
      subjected to compressive stress; -- the opposite of stay,
      and tie.
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Strut \Strut\, v. t.
   To hold apart. Cf. {Strut}, n., 3.
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Strut \Strut\, a.
   Protuberant. [Obs.] --Holland.
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95 Moby Thesaurus words for "strut":
      amble, barge, bounce, bowl along, brave show, bundle, clump, drag,
      droop, flaunt, flounce, foot, footslog, gait, gallop, halt,
      hippety-hop, hitch, hobble, hop, jog, jolt, jump, limp, lock step,
      lumber, lunge, lurch, mince, mincing steps, pace, paddle, parade,
      peacock, peacockery, peacockishness, peg, piaffe, piaffer, plod,
      prance, prink, promenade, rack, roll, sashay, saunter, scuff,
      scuffle, scuttle, shamble, shuffle, sidle, single-foot, skip,
      slink, slither, slog, slouch, slowness, stagger, stalk, stamp,
      step, stomp, straddle, straggle, stride, stroll, strolling gait,
      strutting, stump, swagger, swaggering, swank, swash, swashbuckle,
      swashbucklering, swashbucklery, swashbuckling, swing, tittup,
      toddle, totter, traipse, tread, trip, trot, trudge, velocity,
      waddle, walk, wamble, wiggle, wobble