clevis

C3L1E1V4I1S1

noun

A U-shaped coupling having holes at each end, through which a bolt is run; used especially to fit attachments to a tractor or other vehicle as it allows a degree of rotation about the bolt.

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Meanings

nounclevis (plural clevises)

plural clevises · alternative clevy

  1. A U-shaped coupling having holes at each end, through which a bolt is run; used especially to fit attachments to a tractor or other vehicle as it allows a degree of rotation about the bolt.

Origin

First attested in the 1590s. Ultimately related to cleave. Exact origin unknown; probably derived from the verb cleave. If so, the word ultimately may stem from Scandinavian: compare Old Norse kljúfa (“to split”), Old Norse klofi (“a forked stick”).

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian карабина
  • карабина (karabina)U-shaped coupling
Finnish haarukka, hanka
  • haarukkaU-shaped coupling
  • hankaU-shaped coupling
French chape
  • chapeU-shaped coupling
German Bügel, Gabelkopf
  • BügelU-shaped coupling
  • GabelkopfU-shaped coupling
  • U-KlammerU-shaped coupling
  • U-KupplungU-shaped coupling
Russian такела́жная ско́ба
  • такела́жная ско́ба (takelážnaja skóba)U-shaped coupling
Cite this entry
APA

clevis. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/clevis

MLA

“clevis.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/clevis. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “clevis,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/clevis.

Source: clevis on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.