ferrule

American  

[fer-uhl, -ool] / ˈfɛr əl, -ul /

Or ferule

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.

3. 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.

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

5. 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.

6. Angling.

   1. 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.

   2. 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)

ferruled, ferruling

1. to furnish with a ferrule.

ferrule British  

/ 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

3. 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

Etymology

Origin of ferrule

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 -ole ¹

Example Sentences

"I don't even know if it was the cue, the ferrule or me. There were three things," he said.

From BBC

It’s hard to get off my paint brush ferrules and work ladders.

From Seattle Times

Henry stopped to watch them at a distance, resting the ferrule of his umbrella on the toe of his khaki-gaitered shoe.

From Literature

If the cotton wisp turns out to be too thin to match the color variations on your tile, try using a thin artist brush with the bristles cut off close to the ferrule.

From Washington Post

I have never had a pencil split along the length of the graphite or a ferrule separate.

From New York Times

Related Words

• bar
• bat
• baton
• cane
• club
• rod
• slab
• stalk
• strip
• wand
• wedge