swivel
English
Etymology
From (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Middle English swyvel, swivel, from a derivative of (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Old English swīfan (“to revolve”), + -el, an instrumental suffix, equivalent to swive + -el.
Pronunciation
Noun
swivel (plural swivels)
- (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, in 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.
- (military) A small piece of ordnance, turning on a point or swivel; called also swivel gun.
- (Can we find and add a quotation of Wilhelm to this entry?)
- (slang) Strength of mind or character that enables one to overcome adversity; confidence; force of will.
- Bob ain't got no swivel.
- (dance) A rotating of the hips.
Derived terms
Translations
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Verb
swivel (third-person singular simple present swivels, present participle swiveling or swivelling, simple past and past participle swiveled or swivelled)
- (intransitive) To swing or turn, as on a pin or pivot.
- 2013, Delme Parfitt in Wales Online, Cardiff City 1 - 0 Swansea City: Steven Caulker heads Bluebirds to South Wales derby win (3 November 2013)
- 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.
- 2013, Delme Parfitt in Wales Online, Cardiff City 1 - 0 Swansea City: Steven Caulker heads Bluebirds to South Wales derby win (3 November 2013)
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 The imported definitions may be significantly out of date, and any more recent senses may be completely missing.
(See the entry for “swivel”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.)
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