cleat

[ kleet ]

noun

1. a wedge-shaped block fastened to a surface to serve as a check or support:

   He nailed cleats into the sides of the bookcase to keep the supports from slipping.

2. a strip of metal, wood, or the like, fastened across a surface, as a ramp or gangway, to provide sure footing or to maintain an object in place.
3. a strip of wood, metal, etc., fastened across a surface, as of a plank or series of adjacent planks, for strength or support.
4. a conical or rectangular projection, usually of hard rubber, or a metal strip with sharp projections, built into or attached to the sole of a shoe to provide greater traction.
5. a shoe fitted with such projections.
6. a metal plate fastened to the sole or heel of a shoe, to protect against wear.
7. Shipbuilding. a hook-shaped piece of metal supporting a small structural member.
8. Also called belaying cleat. Nautical. an object of wood or metal having one or two projecting horns to which ropes may be belayed, especially as fixed to the deck, bulkhead, or stanchion of a vessel.
9. the cleavage plane of coal as found in a mine.

verb (used with object)

1. to supply or strengthen with cleats; fasten to or with a cleat.

cleat

/ kliːt /

noun

1. a wedge-shaped block, usually of wood, attached to a structure to act as a support
2. a device consisting of two hornlike prongs projecting horizontally in opposite directions from a central base, used for securing lines on vessels, wharves, etc
3. a short length of angle iron used as a bracket
4. a piece of metal, leather, etc, attached to the sole of a shoe to prevent wear or slipping
5. a small triangular-shaped nail used in glazing
6. any of the main cleavage planes in a coal seam

verb

1. to supply or support with a cleat or cleats
2. to secure (a line) on a cleat

Word History and Origins

Origin of cleat¹

1350–1400; Middle English clete wedge, cognate with Old High German klōz lump, ball, Dutch kloot; akin to clot

Word History and Origins

Origin of cleat¹

C14: of Germanic origin, compare Old High German chlōz clod, lump, Dutch kloot ball

Example Sentences

Times in the 100-meters just haven’t reached the same echelon since the greatest sprinter of all time hung up his cleats.

From FiveThirtyEight

No, it wasn’t the rain, the slick outfield grass or the dirt that stuck in their cleats and asked for a good banging against concrete.

From Washington Post

Most road pedals use a cleat with a three-bolt attachment system.

From Outside Online

Shoes at the $100 and $150 level are typically compatible with that cleat pattern, while higher-price shoes are not.

From Outside Online

Institutional investors, founders — even reporters — often get attached to senior members of a team, and when one of those individuals decides to hang up his or her cleats, it can be tricky for the rest of the partnership.

From TechCrunch

The center cleat prevents the boards from buckling while the sides are tightly held by these simple flat fasteners.

From Project Gutenberg

Where the strain is not too great the holders may be used without a cleat, making an effective flat fastening.

From Project Gutenberg

When the squalls came he slackened up or drew in around the cleat as became necessary.

From Project Gutenberg

The young man, clinging to a cleat and watching the struggles of their craft, waved a mittened hand to signify that he agreed.

From Project Gutenberg

Then I made fast the end of the line round the main-sheet cleat, for that told me that the man had caught on.

From Project Gutenberg