sprag

comparative more sprag · superlative most sprag

1. alternativeAlternative form of sprack.

   a good sprag memory

   c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merry Wiues of Windsor”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i]

plural sprags

1. A billet of wood, piece of timber, or similar solid object or constructed unit that is used as a prop.

   The sprag should still be taken apart for visual inspection of the components. I have seen sprags that still functioned correctly, but when taken apart, the spring cage that holds the sprag elements was completely destroyed.

   2008, Cliff Ruggles, GM Automatic Overdrive Transmission Builder's and Swapper's Guide, page 52

   3 more examples

   1956, United States Department of the Army, United States Department of the Air Force, Principles of Automotive Vehicles, Technical Manual 9-8000, page 325, A sprag (fig. 349) is a steel block so shaped as to act as a wedge in the complete assembly. In the sprag unit under discussion, there are 42 sprags assembled into an outer race and held in place by two energizing springs (fig. 350).

   1981, (US) Departments of the Army and Air Force, Maintenance: Direct Support, and General Support Level, Technical Manual 9-2520-246-34-1, page 2-201, When checking sprags, anvil and spindle ends of micrometer and flat back of sprag must all rest on a flat surface as shown in view A. Since wear on all sprags in any one sprag unit will be the same, it is only necessary to check 5 sprags in each assembly.

   A one-way sprag clutch (figure 40-36) consists of a hub and a drum separated by figure-eight-shaped metal pieces called sprags. The sprags are shaped this way so they can lock between the races when a race is turned in one direction only.

   2009, Jack Erjavec, Automotive Technology: A Systems Approach, Cengage Learning, page 1192

   1. businessA piece of wood used to stop, check, or prevent the motion of a wagon or mine car, whether by propping it in place or acting as a brake against its wheels or axles.

present singular third person sprags · participle present spragging · participle past spragged · past spragged

1. transitiveTo check the motion of, as a carriage on a steep slope, by putting a sprag between the spokes of the wheel.

   Accidents happen to the driver while running alongside his trip, spragging wheels or applying brakes

   1911, L. M. Jones, “Accidents from Mine Cars and Locomotives”, in Miners' Circular

2. transitiveTo prop or sustain with a sprag.