fifth wheel
nounEtymology
From the fact that since many vehicles such as carriages, coaches, wagons, prime movers, and trucks generally have four wheels on which they move, this component which resembles a wheel is the fifth. * (anything superfluous or unnecessary): Sense 3 refers to the fact that a fifth wheel is not needed for a four-wheeled vehicle to operate.
Definitions
A type of trailer hitch, which consists of a horseshoe-shaped plate on a multidirectional…
A type of trailer hitch, which consists of a horseshoe-shaped plate on a multidirectional pivot, with a locking pin to couple with the kingpin of a truck trailer.
- The semi-trailers are equipped with hydraulic brakes which operate through the king pin of the fifth wheel. The booster-controlled fifth wheel gives full and complete cab control of all braking and coupling operations.
A horizontal wheel or segment of a wheel above the front axle and beneath the body of a…
A horizontal wheel or segment of a wheel above the front axle and beneath the body of a carriage, forming an extended support to prevent it from overturning.
- For greasing the axles and fifth wheel, use castor-oil. It is not necessary to put on a great deal. [...] The fifth wheel should be looked after, and not be allowed to become entirely dry.
Anything superfluous or unnecessary.
- I felt like a fifth wheel when both of them started giggling and making out during dinner.
- A subjunctive mode should no more exist in the English grammar, than a fifth wheel be given to a wagon.
- Why I'm of no more use in my own house, than a fifth wheel would be to a wagon.
The neighborhood
Vish — recursive loop
No curated loop yet for fifth wheel. Loops are being traced one word at a time while the ingestion pipeline matures.
sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA