socket wrench

American  

noun

1. a box wrench with a socket that is an extension of the shank.

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socket wrench British  

noun

1. Also: socket set.  a wrench having a handle onto which socketed heads of various sizes can be fitted

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Etymology

Origin of socket wrench

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

Leveraging the heavy chair onto a homemade wooden brace, he quickly slips off the old wheels and slips on the new, tightening them with a socket wrench.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 15, 2022

A socket wrench does the same job as a conventional wrench, only more efficiently.

From Washington Post • May 24, 2022

Unlike gold, which is hovering around $1,300 an ounce, these old silver coins come in small enough denominations to barter for a loaf of bread or a socket wrench in an economic “Mad Max” scenario.

From New York Times • Sep. 23, 2017

The item created was a ratcheting socket wrench, 3D printed by ISS Commander Barry ‘Butch’ Wilmore last Wednesday, based on a design simply emailed from Earth.

From Forbes • Dec. 22, 2014

A container of IcyHot, a bag of little black specks, five or six heavy-duty bungee cords, a screwdriver, a socket wrench, and a small sledgehammer.

From "Made You Up" by Francesca Zappia