knife switch

American  

noun

Electricity.

1. a form of air switch in which a moving element, usually a hinged blade, is placed between two contact clips.

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knife switch British  

noun

1. an electric switch in which a flat metal blade, hinged at one end, is pushed between fixed contacts

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Etymology

Origin of knife switch

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

knife switch

One of the main switches for the reactor at Obninsk is a double-pole, single-throw knife switch, a device that now turns up in the U.S. only in the laboratory scenes of Frankenstein movies.

From Time Magazine Archive

In Figure 43 each battery has a double pole, double throw knife switch.

From The Automobile Storage Battery Its Care And Repair by Otto A. Witte

Turn it off by opening the knife switch.

From Common Science by John W. (John Woodside) Ritchie

Amber No. 32 in fireplace on knife switch to be flickered when Celia throws letters and army list into fire.

From Green Stockings A Comedy in Three Acts by A. E. W. (Alfred Edward Woodle) Mason

Cover the blade of the knife switch with a fold of paper and close it.

From Common Science by John W. (John Woodside) Ritchie