Hypertext Webster Gateway: "rivet"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Rivet \Riv"et\, n. [F., fr. river to rivet; perh. fr. Icel. rifa
to fasten together. Cf. {Reef} part of a sail.]
A metallic pin with a head, used for uniting two plates or
pieces of material together, by passing it through them and
then beating or pressing down the point so that it shall
spread out and form a second head; a pin or bolt headed or
clinched at both ends.
With busy hammers closing rivets up. --Shak.
{Rivet joint}, or {Riveted joint}, a joint between two or
more pieces secured by rivets.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Rivet \Riv"et\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Riveted}; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Riveting}.]
1. To fasten with a rivet, or with rivets; as, to rivet two
pieces of iron.
2. To spread out the end or point of, as of a metallic pin,
rod, or bolt, by beating or pressing, so as to form a sort
of head.
3. Hence, to fasten firmly; to make firm, strong, or
immovable; as, to rivet friendship or affection.
Rivet and nail me where I stand, ye powers!
--Congreve.
Thus his confidence was riveted and confirmed. --Sir
W. Scott.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
rivet
n 1: ornament consisting of a circular rounded protuberance (as
on a vault or shield or belt) [syn: {stud}, {boss}]
2: heavy pin having a head at one end and the other end being
hammered flat after being passed through holes in the
pieces that are fastened together
v 1: focus one's attention on something; "Please focus on your
studies and not on your hobbies" [syn: {concentrate}, {focus},
{center}, {centre}, {pore}]
2: fasten with a rivet or rivets
3: hold (someone's attention); "The discovery of the skull
riveted the paleontologists"
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