patch cord

noun

: a wire with a plug at each end that is used to connect electrical devices

Examples of patch cord in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web In addition, the U.K. plans to push its growing wind harvest south toward London via six more offshore HVDC cables, running shore-to-shore like patch cords in an old-time telephone switchboard. IEEE Spectrum, 28 Dec. 2023 Old-school analog computers had used clunky patch cords on plug boards. Charles Platt, WIRED, 30 Mar. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'patch cord.' 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

1926, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of patch cord was in 1926

Dictionary Entries Near patch cord

Cite this Entry

“Patch cord.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/patch%20cord. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.

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