Spanner

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  spanner \span"ner\ (sp[a^]n"n[~e]r), n.
     1. One who, or that which, spans.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. The lock of a fusee or carbine; also, the fusee or carbine
        itself. [Obs.]


        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. An iron instrument having a jaw to fit a nut or the head
        of a bolt, and used as a lever to turn it with; a wrench;
        specifically, a wrench for unscrewing or tightening the
        couplings of hose. [Chiefly British usage]
        [1913 Webster]
  
     4. pl. A contrivance in some of the earlier steam engines for
        moving the valves for the alternate admission and shutting
        off of the steam.
        [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Inchworm \Inch"worm`\, n. (Zool.)
     The larva of any geometrid moth. It progresses forward by
     first bringing the rear end of the body forward, forming a
     loop, then moving the front part of the body; called also
     {measuring} worm, {measuringworm}, {spanner}, and {looper}.
     See {Geometrid}.
     [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  spanner
       n : a hand tool that is used to hold or twist a nut or bolt
           [syn: {wrench}]