rivet

[ riv-it ]
/ ˈrɪv ɪt /

noun

a metal pin for passing through holes in two or more plates or pieces to hold them together, usually made with a head at one end, the other end being hammered into a head after insertion.

verb (used with object), riv·et·ed, riv·et·ing or (especially British) riv·et·ted, riv·et·ting.

to fasten with a rivet or rivets.
to hammer or spread out the end of (a pin, bolt, etc.) in order to form a head and secure something; clinch.
to fasten or fix firmly.
to hold (the eye, attention, etc.) firmly.

Origin of rivet

1350–1400; (noun) Middle English revette, rivette < Old French rivet, derivative of river to attach; (v.) Middle English revetten, derivative of the noun

OTHER WORDS FROM rivet

riv·et·er, noun riv·et·less, adjective un·riv·et·ed, adjective un·riv·et·ing, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for rivet

British Dictionary definitions for rivet

rivet
/ (ˈrɪvɪt) /

noun

a short metal pin for fastening two or more pieces together, having a head at one end, the other end being hammered flat after being passed through holes in the pieces

verb -ets, -eting or -eted (tr)

to join by riveting
to hammer in order to form into a head
(often passive) to cause to be fixed or held firmly, as in fascinated attention, horror, etc to be riveted to the spot

Derived forms of rivet

riveter, noun

Word Origin for rivet

C14: from Old French, from river to fasten, fix, of unknown origin