Rivet

//ˈɹɪvət// name, noun, verb

Definitions

Proper Noun
  1. 1
    A surname from French.
Noun
  1. 1
    A cylindrical mechanical fastener which is supplied with a factory head at one end and is used to attach multiple parts together by passing its bucktail through a hole and upsetting its end to form a field head.
  2. 2
    heavy pin having a head at one end and the other end being hammered flat after being passed through holes in the pieces that are fastened together wordnet
  3. 3
    Any fixed point or certain basis. figuratively
  4. 4
    ornament consisting of a circular rounded protuberance (as on a vault or shield or belt) wordnet
  5. 5
    A light kind of footman's plate armour; an almain rivet. obsolete

    "over his rivet he had a garment of white cloth of gold with a redde crosse"

Verb
  1. 1
    To attach or fasten parts by using rivets. transitive
  2. 2
    direct one's attention on something wordnet
  3. 3
    To install rivets (see Usage notes). transitive
  4. 4
    hold (someone's attention) wordnet
  5. 5
    To command the attention of. figuratively, transitive
Show 2 more definitions
  1. 6
    fasten with a rivet or rivets wordnet
  2. 7
    To make firm or immovable. figuratively, transitive

    "Terror riveted him to the spot."

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Old French rivet (13th century), from the verb Old French river (“to fetter [a person]”) (12th century), from Old French rive (“rim, edge”) (ca. 1100), which is ultimately from Latin ripa (“riverbank”). Compare river, rival, riparian. The sense "kind of footman's armour" is apparently a back-formation from almain rivet, which is apparently derived from the English noun; see that entry for more.

Etymology 2

From Old French rivet (13th century), from the verb Old French river (“to fetter [a person]”) (12th century), from Old French rive (“rim, edge”) (ca. 1100), which is ultimately from Latin ripa (“riverbank”). Compare river, rival, riparian. The sense "kind of footman's armour" is apparently a back-formation from almain rivet, which is apparently derived from the English noun; see that entry for more.

Etymology 3

Borrowed from French Rivet.

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