SWIVEL

swivel. Swivel, n. a thing to turn round upon, ring, gun

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Swiv″el (?), n. [[AS. swīfan to move quickly, to remove; akin to Icel. sveifla to whirl, shake, svīfa to ramble, to turn. See Swoop, and cf. Swift a reel, Swift, a.]] 1. 1. (Mech.) A piece, 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.
2. 2. (Mil.) A small piece of ordnance, turning on a point or swivel; — called also swivel gun. Wilhelm.
Swivel bridge, a kind of drawbridge that turns round on a vertical axis; a swing bridge. — Swivel hook, a hook connected with the iron strap of a pulley block by a swivel joint, for readily taking the turns out of a tackle. — Swivel joint, a joint, the two pieces composing which turn round, with respect to each other, on a longitudinal pin or axis, as in a chain, to prevent twisting.