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alligator clip

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noun Electricity.
a type of terminal for making temporary electrical connections, consisting of a cliplike device with long, narrow jaws that resemble those of an alligator.
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Also called alligator clamp .

Origin of alligator clip

First recorded in 1940–45
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use alligator clip in a sentence

  • He couldn't control his fingers accurately yet, and he made several attempts to pull the alligator clip off the terminal post.

    The Scarlet Lake Mystery|Harold Leland Goodwin
  • When he had pulled the alligator clip, the board had showed red.

    The Scarlet Lake Mystery|Harold Leland Goodwin
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