oil-canning

noun

A moderate deformation or buckling of sheet material, particularly common with flat sheet metal surfaces.

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Meanings

nounoil-canning (uncountable)
  1. uncountablebusinessA moderate deformation or buckling of sheet material, particularly common with flat sheet metal surfaces.
  2. uncountablebusinessThe movement of a perceived flat surface due to the application of an external force.

Origin

In reference to the technique used to operate an oil can, holding it between the index and middle fingers while applying pressure to the bottom to pump out oil.

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Cite this entry
APA

oil-canning. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/oil-canning

MLA

“oil-canning.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/oil-canning. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “oil-canning,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/oil-canning.

Source: oil-canning on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.