Clevis

noun

noun ·Rare ·Advanced level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A U-shaped coupling having holes at each end, through which a bolt is run; used especially to fit attachments to a tractor or other vehicle as it allows a degree of rotation about the bolt.
  2. 2
    a coupler shaped like the letter U with holes through each end so a bolt or pin can pass through the holes to complete the coupling; used to attach a drawbar to a plow or wagon or trailer etc. wordnet

Etymology

First attested in the 1590s. Ultimately related to cleave. Exact origin unknown; probably derived from the verb cleave. If so, the word ultimately may stem from Scandinavian: compare Old Norse kljúfa (“to split”), Old Norse klofi (“a forked stick”).

Related phrases

clevis pin

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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.