What does trousseau mean?
A trousseau is a bride's collection of clothes, household possessions, jewelry, or money, traditionally gathered before marriage or given to her as part of the wedding celebrations. The word is used most often in British and American English, though it may sound formal, traditional, or even old-fashioned in casual conversation. Its contents have varied across periods and cultures: it might emphasize a bridal wardrobe, useful household items, or valuable wedding gifts such as silverware and jewelry. The expression also has an older, less common general meaning of a bundle or pack, as in a bundle of clothing or papers. In its familiar wedding sense, a trousseau represents preparation for a new household and the practical or symbolic resources a bride brings to marriage. Although the word is sometimes treated as a chiefly bridal concept, its associations with transition, family generosity, and the beginning of married life make it distinctive.
nounA collection of clothes, household goods, jewelry, or money provided for or given to a bride, traditionally before her marriage. By extension, it may refer to the possessions or wardrobe a bride takes into her new home.
- A collection of clothes, household items, jewelry, or money provided for or given to a bride, especially before marriage.
- A bundle or pack of objects; now chiefly archaic or literary.
"Her parents gave her a beautiful silver trousseau for her wedding."
"She spent several weeks assembling her trousseau before the wedding."
"The old trunk contained the heirloom jewels that made up her grandmother's trousseau."
The standard plural is trousseaux, pronounced /ˈtruːsoʊz/ in American English and /ˈtruːsəʊz/ in British English.
"The two trousseaux were displayed before the wedding reception."
Trousseau literally means “little bundle” in French, a fitting description of the belongings a bride traditionally assembled for her new life.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does trousseau come from?
English borrowed the word from French trousseau, a diminutive of trousse, meaning “bundle” or “pack.” French trousse in turn derives from Late Latin trossa, also meaning a bundle or pack. The English word became especially associated with a bride's possessions and wedding gifts; related forms with a shared historical root include trousse, truss, and trouser.
Related word forms
How trousseau is actually used
The word is most common in a traditional wedding context and may sound formal or old-fashioned in everyday speech. In modern usage, a trousseau can include a bride's clothing and household possessions, while dictionaries also record it for jewelry or money given to the bride. The general sense of a bundle or pack is archaic or literary.