Descriptionary

stone in Great Britain, the equivalent of 14 pounds avoirdupois.

therm 100,000 Btus.

township a unit of measurement used in surveying, specifically the equivalent of 36 square miles.

tun 252 gallons, as used for measuring wine or other liquids.

wrenches

adjustable wrench a common steel wrench with adjustable jaws for loosening or tightening nuts and bolts. Also known as a Crescent wrench.

Allen wrench an L-shaped, hexagonal rod, used for turning hexagonal screws or bolts. Also known as a hex key.

box wrench a steel wrench with a toothed ring on each end, for loosening or tightening nuts and bolts.

chain wrench a wrench with a chain on one end, used when a powerful torque is needed, as for pipes or pipe fittings.

combination wrench a steel wrench with standard open jaws on one end and a box wrench (toothed ring) on the other.

Crescent wrench brand name for an adjustable wrench.

crow's foot wrench a standard, open-jawed wrench with a special hole in its neck in which a socket wrench can be inserted for driving; commonly used in hard-to-reach areas.

deep-throat socket wrench a hollow, steel tube with hexagonal openings on either end, for turning nuts and valves. Also known as a plumber's wrench.

faucet spanner a flat, metal bar having various openings on its ends and down its length, used in sev­eral plumbing applications.

monkey wrench a large, heavy adjustable wrench used in plumbing.

nut driver a screwdriverlike wrench with a hex opening at the end of its shaft for turning hex nuts and bolts in tight places.

nut splitter a P-shaped tool used to cut away nuts that are frozen or irretractable.

pipe wrench a large, heavy adjustable wrench with toothed jaws, used by plumbers for turning pipes and pipe fittings.

socket wrench a steel wrench with a head contain­ing a ratcheting mechanism and a square plug on which variably sized sockets are attached, for turning nuts and bolts in limited space.

spanner a British word for a wrench. Also, a plumb­ing wrench with special notches for loosening faucet nuts.

spud wrench a metal wrench with large open jaws on either end, used to turn oversized nuts, such as those used in plumbing fixtures.

strap wrench a wrench with a fabric strap on one end, used for turning pipes without making scratches.

automobiles

accelerator the gas pedal, attached to the throttle in the carburetor or fuel-injection system.

additive a fluid added to gas or oil to improve per­formance.

afterburner an exhaust manifold that burns off car­bon monoxide and fuel in the exhaust system to pro­duce extra power.

airbag a bag located in a steering wheel, dashboard, or side door that automatically inflates to protect pas­sengers from injury in an accident.

air cleaner above the carburetor, the round recep­tacle that holds the air filter.

air filter located in the air cleaner, the round filter that removes dirt and dust from the air before it enters the carburetor.

airfoil a winglike structure that captures air and helps to press the automobile into the road to improve traction and cornering. Also known as a spoiler.

alignment the proper positioning of the front wheels for optimum handling and minimum tire wear.

all-wheel drive a drive system that, unlike four- wheel drive, engages all four wheels at all times, with a center differential that allows each wheel to rotate at different speeds, improving on-road traction. Also known as full-time four-wheel drive.

alternator a generator device that produces alter­nating current for powering the electrical equipment while the engine is running.

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RANSPORTATION

antifreeze a solution that lowers the freezing point and raises the boiling point of water in the cooling system. Also known as coolant.

antiknock agents any substance added to gasoline to raise its octane number and prevent it from knock­ing, pinging, or detonating.

antilock brakes brakes designed to prevent locking of the wheels during heavy braking.

antiroll bar see swaybar.

automatic transmission a transmission in which gear ratios are changed automatically, thus eliminat­ing the need for a stick shift and clutch.

axle the shaft to which the wheels are attached.

backfire an explosion of the air-fuel mixture in the intake or exhaust system.

badge engineering auto manufacturer's term for a car model sold under a variety of names under which only the trim and name badges differ.

ball joint a ball-and-socket joint providing flexibil­ity to the steering linkage and suspension system.

battery the electrochemical component used to store and produce electricity.