(Britain, Ireland, mildly derogatory) A stupid or unintelligent person; one prone to making mistakes, especially in language. You spanner, Rodney!
What are spanners in England?
In the UK, a spanner is a fixed-profile hand tool which fits or removes a fastening by turning a nut or bolt and a wrench is a similar tool but turns non-fastening components, for example, a pipe (or Stillson) wrench which is used to turn and manipulate pipes.
What is a spanner tool used for?
wrench, also called spanner, tool, usually operated by hand, for tightening bolts and nuts.
What is the difference between a wrench and a spanner?
A spanner is a type of wrench with an opening and sometimes little teeth: you can clasp it over the nut or bolt and get a good grip. In the US, the main difference between a spanner and other wrenches is the spanner is adjustable and works with many sizes of nuts and bolts.
Why do the British call wrenches spanners?
Wrench’ is derived from Middle English wrench, from Old English wrenċ, from Proto-Germanic *wrankiz (“a turning, twisting”). First used in 1790. ‘Spanner’ came into use in the 1630s, referring to the tool for winding the spring of a wheel-lock firearm.
What does throw a spanner in the works mean?
Definition of put/throw a spanner in the works
informal. : to cause something to not go as planned We were ready to start the project when the bank threw a spanner in the works by denying the loan.
Why wrenches are preferred over spanner?
Torque or turning effect due to a force is maximum when r is maximum. We prefer to use a wrench with long arm because when the length of the arm(r) is long, the force (F) required to produce a given turning effect ( x ) is smaller. Hence, a nut can be unscrewed easily.
What is the proper name for a monkey wrench?
Also called, especially British, adjustable spanner. a wrench having an adjustable jaw permitting it to grasp nuts or the like of different sizes.
How is a spanner made?
Most types of spanner are made using the drop forging process. Steel rods are cut into short lengths, called billets, and each one is passed through an induction heating coil which uses electromagnetism to heat the metal to about 1000 degrees Celsius.
What is spanner and type?
Following are the different types of spanners:
Socket spanner. Box spanner. Combination spanner. Hook spanner. Adjustable spanner.
Where can I use spanner?
Spanners are primarily used for turning fasteners such as nuts and bolts. This tool is also known as wrenches in different parts of the world. Spanners are usually employed for gripping objects and turning fasteners.
Why is a spanner called a monkey wrench?
Charles Moncky, a Baltimore mechanic, invented the monkey wrench around 1858. Moncky’s wrench was named using a purposeful misspelling of his name.
Is a pipe wrench a spanner?
Another type of wrench often used on pipes, the plumber wrench, is also called a pipe wrench in some places. The Stillson wrench is an adjustable wrench (spanner) with hardened serrated teeth on its jaws.
Are spanners and sockets the same?
A socket wrench (or socket spanner) is a type of spanner (or wrench in North American English), that uses a closed socket format, rather than a typical open wrench/spanner to turn a fastener, typically in the form of a nut or bolt.
What do Americans call an adjustable spanner?
An adjustable spanner (UK and most other English-speaking countries) or adjustable wrench (US and Canada) is any of various styles of spanner (wrench) with a movable jaw, allowing it to be used with different sizes of fastener head (nut, bolt, etc.)
What is a tube spanner?
Box (or ‘tubular’) spanners are made from metal tubing and often have two profiles, one at each end of the tube. They cover the whole of the fastener head and make contact with them on all flat sides and corners. The profile of a box spanner is very specific and cannot be used on other sizes or shapes.
