monkey wrench

monkey wrench
A tool which is similar to a pipe wrench. While a pipe wrench has teeth and a loosly mounted head that allows it to "bite" into the pipe and tighten as a strain is put on the handle, a monkey wrench has adjustable, smooth jaws that always remain parallel. The money wrench is used for turning pipe unions, the heads of bolts, and other flat surfaced object. The monkey wrench has pretty much been replaced by the Cresent wrench and other more modern adjustable wrenches. Monkey wrenches are still used on old steam engines (not necessarily locomotives) and boiler fittings. Some call it a "steamboat" wrench. (definition submitted by George King III). The expression "throw a monkey wrench" into something generally means to sabotage something or to cause a problem or delay in performing repairs.
Also see

Dictionary of automotive terms. 2015.

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  • Monkey Wrench — «Monkey Wrench» Sencillo de Foo Fighters del álbum The Colour and the Shape Formato CD Grabación Estudios Grand Master de Hollywood Género(s) rock alternativo …   Wikipedia Español

  • Monkey wrench — Wrench Wrench (r[e^]nch), n. [OE. wrench deceit, AS. wrenc deceit, a twisting; akin to G. rank intrigue, crookedness, renken to bend, twist, and E. wring. [root]144. See {Wring}, and cf. {Ranch}, v. t.] [1913 Webster] 1. Trick; deceit; fraud;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • monkey wrench — n. a wrench with one movable jaw, adjusted by a screw to fit various sizes of a nut, etc.: see WRENCH ☆ throw a monkey wrench into Informal to disrupt the orderly functioning or realization of …   English World dictionary

  • monkey wrench — monkey ,wrench noun count a WRENCH that can be used to turn NUTS of different sizes throw a monkey wrench into something INFORMAL to spoil something by preventing it from happening the way it was planned …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • monkey wrench — n especially AmE 1.) a tool that is used to hold or turn things of different widths British Equivalent: adjustable spanner 2.) throw a monkey wrench in the works AmE informal to do something that will cause problems or spoil someone s plans… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • monkey wrench — ► NOUN ▪ a spanner with large adjustable jaws …   English terms dictionary

  • Monkey wrench — For other uses of this term, see monkey wrench (disambiguation). The monkey wrench (also known as an adjustable spanner in the UK) is an adjustable wrench, a later American development of eighteenth century English coach wrenches. It was popular… …   Wikipedia

  • monkey wrench — noun adjustable wrench that has one fixed and one adjustable jaw • Syn: ↑monkey wrench • Hypernyms: ↑adjustable wrench, ↑adjustable spanner * * * noun, pl ⋯ wrenches [count] : a wrench that can be adjusted to grip or turn things of different… …   Useful english dictionary

  • monkey wrench — monkeywrench monkeywrench, monkey wrench monkey wrench . A wrench or spanner which has one fixed and one adjustable jaw. Syn: monkey wrench. [WordNet 1.5] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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