shackle
A restraint fitted over a human or animal appendage, such as an ankle, finger, or wrist, normally used in a pair joined by a chain.
Entries starting with S
604 entries.
shaft
A component of a loom which holds the heddles and is raised by treadles to create the shed.
shaft horsepower
In an engine, the power measured in horse power delivered to a rotating shaft, which could be in a turbine, or transmission.
shamble
One of a succession of niches or platforms, one above another, to hold ore which is thrown successively from platform to platform, and thus raised to a higher level.
shank
nounMetalworking
A large ladle for molten metal, fitted with long bars for handling it.
shaper
nounMachining
Any agent that shapes (something), whether literally or figuratively.
share
The cutting blade of an agricultural machine like a plough, a cultivator or a seeding-machine.
sharebeam
The part of a plough to which the share is attached.
shark fin
nounConstruction
An upward curled felt side lap or end lap.
shaving horse
nounWoodworking
A device that allows a woodworker to sit astride it while it clamps onto a piece of wood which is being worked.
shaving tool
nounMachining
An implement that removes a small amount of material around the edges of a previously blanked stamping or piercing.
shawl collar
A collar that is turned over on a garment that seamlessly combines with the lapels to form a continuous, unbroken curving line from the neck down the front.
shear
nounMetalworking
A large machine use for cutting sheet metal.
shear centre
The point where a shear force can act without producing any twist in the section. In general not the centroid, but a point through which a force transverse to the axis of a beam section can act and not cause any twisting of the beam section.
shear-cake
A counterweighted refractory slab used as a gate or door to a small furnace or oven.
shearing
The process of making a vertical side cutting in working into a face of coal.
sheath
The insulating outer cover of an electrical cable.
shed
A British Rail Class 66 locomotive.
shed roof
nounConstruction
A roof having only one sloping plane and no hips, ridges or valleys.
sheep-split
A split or strip of a sheepskin; one of the thin sections made by splitting a sheepskin with a cutting knife or machine.
sheepsfoot
A printer's tool with a claw at one end for prizing up forms.
sheet rock
nounConstruction
Prehardened plaster of Paris (gypsum) sold in large panels and used as a wall surface in building construction.
Sherman necktie
nounRail equipment
A segment of rail that has been heated and twisted into a loop, as a means of destroying a railway.
shield
Anything that protects or defends; defense; shelter; protection.
shielded twisted pair
A pair of twisted wires which is surrounded by a metal shield in order to protect from EMI.
shift
nounConstruction
The extent, or arrangement, of the overlapping of plank, brick, stones, etc., that are placed in courses so as to break joints.
shifter
A person employed to repair the horseways and other passages, and keep them unobstructed.
shimming
nounManufacturing
Applying one or more shims to an assembly to adjust the position of one or more of its parts.
shimstock
nounManufacturing
Stock (material) suitable for making shims; often in the form of sheets of metal, plastic, or wood of various thicknesses, ready to have pieces cut out of them as needed.
shingle
verbManufacturing
To hammer and squeeze material in order to expel cinder and impurities from it, as in metallurgy.
ship lift
A device consisting of a structural platform which can be used to launch ships by lowering them into the water, or to lift them into dry dock.
shirr
verbManufacturing
To make gathers in textiles by drawing together parallel threads.
shirt
An article of clothing that is worn on the upper part of the body, often with sleeves that cover some or all of the arms.
shisha
nounManufacturing
A type of embroidery with small pieces of reflective metal attached to the fabric.
shmatte
Any item of clothing.
shoad
Loose fragments (often of metal ore) mixed with earth.
shock
A shock absorber (typically in the suspension of a vehicle).
shock absorber
A mechanical device designed to smooth out or damp any sudden shock impulse and dissipate kinetic energy; usually consists of a combination of a spring and a dashpot.
shock absorption
nounAutomotive
The act of dampening shocks by dissipating kinetic energy.
shoegear
train equipment, usually mounted on bogies, used to transfer electric current from the third rail.
shoot
verbCarpentry
To plane straight; to fit by planing.
shooting brake
nounAutomotive
A vehicle used to carry shooting parties.
shooting stick
A printer's tool to be struck with a mallet for driving quoins.
shop head
nounMetalworking
A factory head; the head formed when a rivet is manufactured
short block
nounAutomotive
An engine subassembly comprising the portion of the cylinder block below the cylinder head gasket but above the oil pan (and including neither).
short bus
nounAutomotive
A minibus, such as a type-A or type-B school bus.
short circuit
A usually unintentional connection of low resistance or impedance in a circuit such that excessive and often damaging current flows in it.
short cross
The short crossbar of a printer's chase.
shortwall
A short wall of coal that is mined in a single slice.
shot sample
nounMetalworking
A sample taken for assay from a molten metallic mass by pouring a portion into water to granulate it.
shoulder belt
nounAutomotive
A seat belt worn over one shoulder and diagonally across the upper body (following the lower margin of the ribcage as it descends), providing restraint for the upper torso (often coupled with a lap belt which restrains the pelvic area and prevents submarining).
show-through
The undesirable situation where matter printed on one side of a sheet is visible from the other side.
shunt
nounRail equipment
A switch on a railway used to move a train from one track to another.
shunter
nounRail equipment
A railway locomotive used for shunting (switching).
shunting neck
nounRail equipment
A length of dead-end track, e.g. alongside a main line, used for the purpose of allowing a train to shunt back into a siding or rail yard without the need for the train to occupy a running line.
shutter
nounConstruction
A panel used to contain freshly poured concrete, which is usually removed when the concrete hardens.
shutterer
nounConstruction
A worker who constructs shuttering/formwork.
shuttle
A tool used to carry the woof back and forth between the warp threads on a loom.
shuttle driver
A device for moving the shuttle between the shuttle boxes and through the warp on a loom.
shuttleman
nounManufacturing
A person employed to repair the shuttle on a loom.