cotter pin
noun
: a half-round metal strip bent into a pin whose ends can be flared after insertion through a slot or hole
Examples of cotter pin in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
People detained on cutters have swallowed jagged metal cotter pins pulled from the rigging and stabbed themselves with smuggled blades, apparently trying to cause such severe injury that they’d be taken to a hospital.
—
Seth Freed Wessler, ProPublica, 11 Dec. 2023
Since last fall, people detained on cutters have pulled jagged metal cotter pins, bolts and screws from the rigging and swallowed them, apparently trying to cause such severe injury that they’d be taken to a hospital.
—Seth Freed Wessler, ProPublica, 7 Dec. 2023
The burner tubes on most gas grills are removable, too; look for a single screw or cotter pin on one end of each tube.
—Timothy Dahl, Popular Mechanics, 27 July 2023
Take care to get the burner tubes back into proper position with cotter pins or screws.
—Timothy Dahl, Popular Mechanics, 27 July 2023
Someone stole a Bluetooth speaker, a foot brake pedal cotter pin and cut electrical wiring from a parked motorcycle in the 100 block of South Marion Street between 9 a.m. May 27 and 1 p.m. May 29.
—Pioneer Press Staff, chicagotribune.com, 3 June 2019
Most gas grill burner tubes are removable as well (look for simple cotter pins on one end, although some models use screws).
—Joe Lindsey, Popular Mechanics, 14 May 2019
Seth Freed Wessler, ProPublica, 11 Dec. 2023
Since last fall, people detained on cutters have pulled jagged metal cotter pins, bolts and screws from the rigging and swallowed them, apparently trying to cause such severe injury that they’d be taken to a hospital.
—Seth Freed Wessler, ProPublica, 7 Dec. 2023
The burner tubes on most gas grills are removable, too; look for a single screw or cotter pin on one end of each tube.
—Timothy Dahl, Popular Mechanics, 27 July 2023
Take care to get the burner tubes back into proper position with cotter pins or screws.
—Timothy Dahl, Popular Mechanics, 27 July 2023
Someone stole a Bluetooth speaker, a foot brake pedal cotter pin and cut electrical wiring from a parked motorcycle in the 100 block of South Marion Street between 9 a.m. May 27 and 1 p.m. May 29.
—Pioneer Press Staff, chicagotribune.com, 3 June 2019
Most gas grill burner tubes are removable as well (look for simple cotter pins on one end, although some models use screws).
—Joe Lindsey, Popular Mechanics, 14 May 2019
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cotter pin.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1881, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near cotter pin
Cite this Entry
“Cotter pin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cotter%20pin. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
cotter pin
noun
: a half-round metal strip bent into a pin whose ends can be spread apart after insertion through a slot or hole
More from Merriam-Webster on cotter pin
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cotter pin
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