cotter

¹ American  

[kot-er] / ˈkɒt ər /

noun

1. a pin, wedge, key, or the like, fitted or driven into an opening to secure something or hold parts together.

2. cotter pin.

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verb (used with object)

1. to secure with a cotter.

cotter ² American  

[kot-er] / ˈkɒt ər /

noun

1. Scot. a person occupying a plot of land and cottage, paid for in services.

2. cottager.

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cotter ¹ British  

/ ˈkɒtə /

noun

1. any part, such as a pin, wedge, key, etc, that is used to secure two other parts so that relative motion between them is prevented

2. short for cotter pin

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verb

1. (tr) to secure (two parts) with a cotter

cotter ² British  

/ ˈkɒtə /

noun

1. Also called: cottier.  English history a villein in late Anglo-Saxon and early Norman times occupying a cottage and land in return for labour

2. Also called: cottar.  a peasant occupying a cottage and land in the Scottish Highlands under the same tenure as an Irish cottier

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Etymology

Origin of cotter¹

1300–50; Middle English coter; akin to late Middle English coterell iron bracket; of uncertain origin

Origin of cotter²

1175–1225; Middle English cotere < Anglo-French cot ( i ) er; cot ², -er ²

Example Sentences

The cause of the accident was narrowed down to a cotter pin, which one of the mechanics at Valbuena Field had forgotten to replace after greasing the landing wheels that morning.

From Time Magazine Archive

Jaws adjust to open wide, making easy work of bending the legs of new cotter pins and loosening large nuts.

From Time Magazine Archive

The ring is attached to a light cable which jerks out two cotter pins freeing the flaps of the canvas 'chute-pack.

From Time Magazine Archive

At the Mikawa mine on southern Kyushu island, a cotter pin apparently fell out of a coupling on a string of coal cars halted on a slight incline.

From Time Magazine Archive

Show two methods by which a cotter may be prevented from slacking back.

From An Introduction to Machine Drawing and Design by Low, David Allan

Related Words

• chunk