wing nut

or wing·nut

noun

a nut having two flat, widely projecting pieces such that it can be readily tightened with the thumb and forefinger.

Nearby words

wing dam, wing flat, wing formula, wing it, wing loading, wing nut, wing shooting, wing shot, wing skid, wing tip, wing-case

Origin of wing nut

First recorded in 1895–1900

Also called butterfly nut, thumbnut.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for wingnut

His views might be extreme, but he did not come off as a wingnut while presenting them.
Barry Goldwater, Father of the Tea Party|Nicolaus Mills|July 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Rep. Steve Stockman (R-TX) is a grifter and a wingnut, but is he possibly a felon too?
Ethics Office Sees Evidence Republican Congressman Broke the Law|Ben Jacobs|June 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This idea is really the spawn of Mark Levin, the wingnut radio host, who has (of course) written a book about it.
Mark Levin's Nutty Constitutional Convention Idea|Michael Tomasky|August 29, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Well, we learned something new about what's going on in wingnut land.
The Obama Press Conference|Michael Tomasky|April 30, 2013|DAILY BEAST

Floridians will die so that he can be first in the wingnut line.
The Resistance Begins: Rick Scott Announces Florida Won't Take Medicaid Money|Michael Tomasky|July 2, 2012|DAILY BEAST
It has no latch and the throttle lever is held in any desired setting by the wingnut and quadrant shown in figure 18.
The 'Pioneer': Light Passenger Locomotive of 1851|John H. White

British Dictionary definitions for wingnut

wing nut

noun

a threaded nut tightened by hand by means of two flat lugs or wings projecting from the central bodyAlso called: butterfly nut

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012