| Engels > Engels |
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| spanner |
| 1. n. (Australian, NZ, British, Irish) A hand tool for adjusting nuts and bolts; a wrench. |
| Pass me that spanner, Jake; there's just one more nut to screw in. |
| 2. n. (rare) One who, or that which, spans. |
| 3. n. (weaponry) A hand tool shaped like a small crank handle, for winding the spring of a wheel lock on a musket. |
| * 1786, Fig. 10. The spanner for spanning or winding up the spring of the wheel lock. — Francis Grose, A Treatise on Ancient Armour and Weapons, page xvi. |
| 4. n. (obsolete) A device in early steam engines for moving the valves for the alternate admission and shutting off of the steam. |
| 5. n. (UK) A problem, dilemma or obstacle; something unexpected or troublesome (in the phrase spanner in the works) |
| Halfway through the production of Macbeth, the director found that the stage was smaller than he expected. This really threw a spanner in the works. |
| 6. n. (UK, Irish, mildly, derogatory) A stupid or unintelligent person; one prone to making mistakes, especially in language. |
| You spanner, Rodney! I wanted a Chinese, not an Indian! |
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