swivel

English

Part or all of this entry has been imported from the 1913 edition of Webster’s Dictionary, which is now free of copyright and hence in the public domain. The imported definitions may be significantly out of date, and any more recent senses may be completely missing.

Etymology

Middle English swyvel, swivel, from a derivative of Old English swīfan "to revolve", + -el, an instrumental suffix

Pronunciation

\Swiv"el\

• Rhymes: -ɪvəl

Noun

Wikipedia swivel (plural swivels)

1. (mechanical) A piece, as a ring or hook, attached to another piece by a pin, in such a manner as to permit rotation about the pin as an axis.
   • 1907, Harold Bindloss, chapter 7, The Dust of Conflict^[1]:

     The patter of feet, and clatter of strap and swivel, seemed to swell into a bewildering din, but they were almost upon the fielato offices, where the carretera entered the town, before a rifle flashed.

2. (military) A small piece of ordnance, turning on a point or swivel; called also swivel gun.
3. (slang) strength of mind or character that enables one to overcome adversity; confidence; will

   Bob ain't got no swivel.

Translations

A piece, as a ring or hook

• Finnish: leikari (fi)

• Spanish: eslabón giratorio (es)

Derived terms

• swivel bridge
• swivel hook
• swivel joint

Verb

swivel (third-person singular simple present swivels, present participle swiveling or swivelling, simple past and past participle swiveled or swivelled)

1. (intransitive) To swing or turn, as on a pin or pivot.