ferrule

or fer·ule

[ fer-uhl, -ool ]
See synonyms for: ferruleferruled on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. a ring or cap, usually of metal, put around the end of a post, cane, or the like, to prevent splitting.

  2. a short metal sleeve for strengthening a tool handle at the end holding the tool.

  1. a bushing or adapter holding the end of a tube and inserted into a hole in a plate in order to make a tight fit, used in boilers, condensers, etc.

  2. a short ring for reinforcing or decreasing the interior diameter of the end of a tube.

  3. a short plumbing fitting, covered at its outer end and caulked or otherwise fixed to a branch from a pipe so that it can be removed to give access to the interior of the pipe.

  4. Angling.

    • either of two fittings on the end of a section of a sectional fishing rod, one fitting serving as a plug and the other as a socket for fastening the sections together.

    • one of two or more small rings spaced along the top of a casting rod to hold and guide the line.

verb (used with object),fer·ruled, fer·rul·ing.
  1. to furnish with a ferrule.

Origin of ferrule

1
1605–15; alteration (apparently conformed to Latin ferrum iron, -ule) of verrel, verril,late Middle English virole<Middle French (cognate with Medieval Latin virola) <Latin viriola, equivalent to viri(a) bracelet + -ola-ole1

Words Nearby ferrule

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use ferrule in a sentence

  • The mayorʼs symbol of office is a cane with a silver knob, plated ferrule, and black cord and tassels.

    The Philippine Islands | John Foreman
  • If only a short piece of pipe is available, it can be used as a ferrule and a handle made of wire or wood.

  • All hooks but the one in use are turned back into the handle and the ferrule slipped into place.

  • As the mandrel with the ferrule passed through the tin, the metal was shaped exactly to the mandrel.

  • The shillelagh was then a beautiful, tough, formidable weapon, and when tipped with an iron ferrule was quite ready for action.

British Dictionary definitions for ferrule

ferrule

ferule

/ (ˈfɛruːl, -rəl) /


noun
  1. a metal ring, tube, or cap placed over the end of a stick, handle, or post for added strength or stability or to increase wear

  2. a side opening in a pipe that gives access for inspection or cleaning

  1. a bush, gland, small length of tube, etc, esp one used for making a joint

verb
  1. (tr) to equip (a stick, etc) with a ferrule

Origin of ferrule

1
C17: from Middle English virole, from Old French virol, from Latin viriola a little bracelet, from viria bracelet; influenced by Latin ferrum iron

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012