Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Cotter
Cot′ter
(kŏt′tẽr)
, Noun.
1.
A piece of wood or metal, commonly wedge-shaped, used for fastening together parts of a machine or structure. It is driven into an opening through one or all of the parts.
[See Illust.]
In the United States a cotter is commonly called a key
. 2.
A toggle.
Cot′ter
,Verb.
T.
To fasten with a cotter.
Webster 1828 Edition
Cotter
COTTER
, COTTAR or COTTIER,Noun.
Definition 2024
cotter
cotter
English
Noun
cotter (plural cotters)
- (mechanical engineering) A pin or wedge inserted through a slot to hold machine parts together.
- (informal) a cotter pin.
Usage notes
The terms cotter and "cotter pin" are sometimes used interchangeably, although they have different functions. Basically a cotter holds parts together and a "cotter pin" holds the cotter in its place. For a more detailed explanation see Wikipedia articles on cotter and cotter pin.
Translations
pin to hold parts together
Related terms
Verb
cotter (third-person singular simple present cotters, present participle cottering, simple past and past participle cottered)
- (transitive) To fasten with a cotter.
Etymology 2
Equivalent to cot (“cottage”) + -er, from Old English cot.
Alternative forms
Noun
cotter (plural cotters)
- A peasant who performed labour in exchange for the right to live in a cottage.
Synonyms
- coscet
- cottager