swivel

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English

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(mechanical) heavy-duty swivel
Swivel (ordnance), Isle of Wight, UK

Etymology

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From Middle English swyvel, swivel, from a derivative of Old English swīfan (to revolve), + -el, an instrumental suffix, equivalent to swive +‎ -el.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ˈswɪvəl/
  • Audio (US):(file)
  • Rhymes: -ɪvəl

Noun

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English Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia

swivel (countable and uncountable, plural swivels)

  1. (mechanical) A piece, such 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 January, Harold Bindloss, chapter 7, in The Dust of Conflict, 1st Canadian edition, Toronto, Ont.: McLeod & Allen, →OCLC:
      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.
    • 1796, John Stedman, chapter 4, in Narrative of a Five Years’ Expedition,[1], volume 1, London: J. Johnson, page 81:
      [The settlement] was entirely surrounded by a broad unfordable marsh or swamp, which prevented all communication, except by private paths under water, known only to the rebels, and before which Baron had placed loaded swivels []
    • 1881, Thomas Wilhelm, A Military Dictionary and Gazetteer:
      Applied to guns mounted upon the cartridges were fired without being tripods , stands , swivels , or carriages
  3. (slang, uncountable) Strength of mind or character that enables one to overcome adversity; confidence; force of will.
    Bob ain't got no swivel.
  4. The act of swivelling.
  5. (dance) A rotating of the hips.
  6. (fishing) A small, usually ball- or barrel-shaped device used in angling to connect sections of fishing lines, consisting of two rings linked via a thrust bearing pivot joint.

Derived terms

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Translations

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Verb

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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.
    • 2013 November 3, Delme Parfitt, “Cardiff City 1 - 0 Swansea City: Steven Caulker heads Bluebirds to South Wales derby win”, in Wales Online:
      As expected, Swansea began the game with some patient passing and the first chance fell to striker Michu in the fourth minute when he controlled a cross by Jonjo Shelvey and swivelled in the penalty box, only to fire over the bar.

Translations

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References

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swivel”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.

Anagrams

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