spanner
See also: Spanner and spänner
English
Etymology
span + -er
Pronunciation
- (UK) enPR: spăn'ə(r), IPA(key): /ˈspæn.ə(ɹ)/
- (US) enPR: spăn'ər, IPA(key): /ˈspæn.ɚ/
Audio (US) (file) Audio (AU) (file) - Rhymes: -ænə(r)
Noun
spanner (plural spanners)
- (Australia, New Zealand, Britain, Ireland) A hand tool for adjusting nuts and bolts; a wrench.
- Pass me that spanner, Jake; there's just one more nut to screw in.
- (rare) One who, or that which, spans.
- 1915, Florence Kiper Frank, The Jew to Jesus: and other poems
- The scheme of the spanner of continents and the desire of the little husbandman hoarding for his loved ones...
- 1915, Florence Kiper Frank, The Jew to Jesus: and other poems
- (weaponry) A hand tool shaped like a small crank handle, for winding the spring of a wheel lock on a musket.
- 1786, Fig. 10. The spanner for spanning or winding up the spring of the wheel lock. — Francis Grose, A Treatise on Ancient Armour and Weapons, page xvi.
- (obsolete) A device in early steam engines for moving the valves for the alternate admission and shutting off of the steam.
- (Britain) A problem, dilemma or obstacle; something unexpected or troublesome (in the phrase spanner in the works)
- Halfway through the production of Macbeth, the director found that the stage was smaller than he expected. This really threw a spanner in the works.
- (Britain, Ireland, mildly derogatory) A stupid or unintelligent person; one prone to making mistakes, especially in language.
- You spanner, Rodney! I wanted a Chinese, not an Indian!
Synonyms
- (hand tool for nuts and bolts): wrench (US)
Related terms
- adjustable spanner
- ring spanner
- spanner barb
- throw a spanner in the works
Descendants
- Malay: sepana
Translations
hand tool for adjusting nuts and bolts
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- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout#Translations.
Translations to be checked
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Anagrams
- panners