piston rod

American  

noun

1. a rod communicating the rectilinear motion of a piston to the small end of a connecting rod or elsewhere.

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piston rod British  

noun

1. the rod that connects the piston of a reciprocating steam engine to the crosshead

2. a less common name for a connecting rod

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Etymology

Origin of piston rod

First recorded in 1780–90

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

piston rod

“The right hand whipping like a piston rod which has broken through the crankcase, or like a baseball bat demolishing a pumpkin,” Norman Mailer, a ringside witness, recalled in an essay.

From New York Times ● Jul. 23, 2013

The loud noise that Abbey and I had heard was the outboard engine throwing a piston rod, though we didn’t know that at the time.

From "Flush" by Carl Hiaasen

A plunger is a piston made in one piece with its piston rod, the piston and the rod being of the same diameter.

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

A yoke from the piston rod spans the crank, so that the steam and pump pistons are in line and directly connected.

From Modern Machine-Shop Practice, Volumes I and II by Rose, Joshua

If the gland is a fit upon the piston rod and in the stuffing box, moving the gland in and out of the stuffing box will be an admirable test of the guide-bar adjustment.

From Modern Machine-Shop Practice, Volumes I and II by Rose, Joshua