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Vise
Definitions
- 1 A surname.
- 1 An instrument consisting of two jaws, closing by a screw, lever, cam, or the like, for holding work, as in filing. US
"Clamp this loop in a strong vise and twist the two ends evenly into one piece. As the twisting progresses, move the wire along so as to keep the grip of the vise close to the hands."
- 2 a holding device attached to a workbench; has two jaws to hold workpiece firmly in place wordnet
- 3 A situation in which one's freedom of choice is constrained. figuratively
"I'd like to know what would become of us in the next ten minutes. They've got us in a vise. We're done for, Gall."
- 4 A screw. obsolete
- 5 A spiral staircase. obsolete
- 1 To clamp with or as with a vise.
"He looked to see the secretary, vised and crackled in those arms, drop limp and senseless."
- 2 Alternative form of visé. alt-of, alternative
"It was the hour in which all who had affairs to arrange with the Austrian ambassador, passports to vise, contracts to sign,were allowed entrance, and it was the baron's duty to receive them."
Etymology
From Middle English vis, vys, vice (“screw”), from Anglo-Norman vyz, vice, from Old French vis (“screw”), from Latin vītis f (“vine”). Probably akin to English withe.
From Middle English vis, vys, vice (“screw”), from Anglo-Norman vyz, vice, from Old French vis (“screw”), from Latin vītis f (“vine”). Probably akin to English withe.
English topographic surname, from Old French deviser (“to split, divide”).
See also for "vise"
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