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Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

swivel en · NOUN

Pronunciation

Etymology

From Middle English swyvel, swivel, from a derivative of Old English swīfan (“to revolve”), + -el, an instrumental suffix, equivalent to swive + -el.

Meanings

  1. (countable, uncountable) A piece, such as a ring or hook, attached to another piece by a pin, in such a manner as to permit rotation about the pin as an axis.
    • The patter of feet, and clatter of strap and swivel, seemed to swell into a bewildering din, but they were almost upon the fielato offices, where the carretera entered the town, before a rifle flashed. 1907 January, Harold Bindloss, chapter 7, in The Dust of Conflict, 1st Canadian edition, Toronto, Ont.: McLeod & Allen, →OCLC:
  2. (countable, uncountable) A small piece of ordnance, turning on a point or swivel; called also swivel gun.
    • Applied to guns mounted upon the cartridges were fired without being tripods, stands, swivels, or carriages 1881, Thomas Wilhelm, A Military Dictionary and Gazetteer:
    • [The settlement] was entirely surrounded by a broad unfordable marsh or swamp, which prevented all communication, except by private paths under water, known only to the rebels, and before which Baron had placed loaded swivels […] 1796, John Stedman, chapter 4, in Narrative of a Five Years’ Expedition,, volume 1, London: J. Johnson, page 81:
  3. (slang, uncountable) Strength of mind or character that enables one to overcome adversity; confidence; force of will.
    • Bob ain't got no swivel.
  4. (countable, uncountable) The act of swivelling.
  5. (countable, uncountable) A rotating of the hips.
  6. (countable, uncountable) A small, usually ball- or barrel-shaped device used in angling to connect sections of fishing lines, consisting of two rings linked via a thrust bearing pivot joint.

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
swivels Number=Plur lexicographic

Deriveds

swivel-hipped · swivel chary · swivel joint · swivelly · swivel bridge · swivel eye · swivel phone · swivel hook · snap swivel · keep one's head on a swivel · swivel-eyed · swivel hoe · swivel knife · swivel gun · swivel chair · swivel-chair

Translations (20)

cmn 旋轴 (piece to permit rotation) · ga udalán (piece to permit rotation) · af wartel (piece to permit rotation) · ja スイベル (piece to permit rotation) · sk obrtlík (piece to permit rotation) · eo turnkruco (piece to permit rotation) · es eslabón giratorio (piece to permit rotation) · de Wirbel (piece to permit rotation) · fr pivot (piece to permit rotation) · sk otočný čap (piece to permit rotation) · nl wartel (piece to permit rotation) · cmn 转节 (piece to permit rotation) · pdt Woawel (piece to permit rotation) · pt elo giratório (piece to permit rotation) · fr émerillon (piece to permit rotation) · fi lanteiden pyöritys (dance: rotating of the hips) · ru вертлю́г (piece to permit rotation) · fi leikari (piece to permit rotation) · fi muna (slang: strength of mind or character) · es pivote (piece to permit rotation)

swivel en · VERB

Pronunciation

Etymology

From Middle English swyvel, swivel, from a derivative of Old English swīfan (“to revolve”), + -el, an instrumental suffix, equivalent to swive + -el.

Meanings

  1. (intransitive) To swing or turn, as on a pin or pivot.
    • As expected, Swansea began the game with some patient passing and the first chance fell to striker Michu in the fourth minute when he controlled a cross by Jonjo Shelvey and swivelled in the penalty box, only to fire over the bar. 2013 November 3, Delme Parfitt, “Cardiff City 1 - 0 Swansea City: Steven Caulker heads Bluebirds to South Wales derby win”, in Wales Online:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
swiveling Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part US lexicographic
swivels Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic
swiveled Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part US lexicographic
swiveled Tense=Past US lexicographic
swivelled Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part UK lexicographic
swivelled Tense=Past UK lexicographic
swivelling Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part UK lexicographic

Deriveds

swivelable · unswivel

Translations (11)

de rotieren (to swing or turn, as on a pin or pivot) · de wirbeln (to swing or turn, as on a pin or pivot) · cmn 转动 (to swing or turn, as on a pin or pivot) · de drehen (to swing or turn, as on a pin or pivot) · fr pivoter (to swing or turn, as on a pin or pivot) · de schwingen (to swing or turn, as on a pin or pivot) · de schwenken (to swing or turn, as on a pin or pivot) · es pivotar (to swing or turn, as on a pin or pivot) · eo pivoti (to swing or turn, as on a pin or pivot) · bg въртя се около ос (to swing or turn, as on a pin or pivot) · es girar (to swing or turn, as on a pin or pivot)