pliers
/ˈplaɪ.ə(ɹ)z/ noun
Also a form of plier
- noun A pincer-like gripping tool that multiplies the strength of the user's hand, often used for bending things. “I need a pair of pliers to get a good grip on that broken screw.”
Synonyms
Etymology
From ply (“to bend”) + -er + -s.
See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.
Webster’s 1913
- noun A kind of small pinchers with long jaws, --used for bending or cutting metal rods or wire, for handling small objects such as the parts of a watch, etc.
Etymology [From Ply to bend, fold.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “pliers”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details