Also 4 whasher, 6 wassher, 8 wisher. [Of doubtful origin; usually assumed to be a use of prec., but the development of meaning has not been accounted for.] A perforated annular disc or flattened ring of metal, leather or other material placed between two surfaces subject to rotative friction, to relieve friction and prevent lateral motion and unsteadiness.
1346. Acc. Exch. K. R., 470/17 m. 2. De … v Cheynes pro barr[a] continentibus L. Linches, v. paribus tenellarum, ij. Whashers [etc.].
1544. in Lett. & Papers Hen. VIII., XIX. I. 148. Spare wheles for small ordynaunce 12 pair, lyncepynnes, wasshers, [etc.].
1611. Florio, Cérchio di ferro, an iron hoope, amongst gunners called a washer, which serues to keepe the iron pin at the end of the axeltree from wearing the naue.
1682. [see LINCH-PIN].
1704–26. Dict. Rust., s.v. Cart, The Washers, being the Rings on the ends of the Axle-tree.
1705. trans. Guillet’s Gentl. Dict., II. s.v. Nave, It has likewise in each end of the hole, through which the end of the Axletree goes, a ring of iron called the wisher, which saves the hole of the nave from wearing too big.
1795. Herschel, in Phil. Trans., LXXXV. 371. It is keyed last at C; with proper washers between the joints to allow of a very smooth motion.
1805. R. W. Dickson, Pract. Agric., I. Plate xii. Every tooth screws through a double frame separated by iron washers for greater steadiness.
1847. Brandon, Anal. Goth. Archit., 102. The closing ring or door latch … [consists of] the flat plate or washer, fixed to the outer surface of the door; the handle or ring; and the spindle.
1872. O. W. Holmes, Poet, i. A washer … makes a loose screw fit.
1876. Blackmore, Cripps, xxvi. The vast diversity of wheels, as well as their many caprices of wagging, according to the state of their washers.
b. An annular disc of leather, rubber or other material placed between the flanges of abutting water-pipes, beneath the plunger of a screw-down water-tap, etc., to prevent leakage.
1850. Ogilvie, s.v., Washers of leather or pasteboard are also used to render screw and other junctions air-tight or water-tight.
1908. Cassell’s Handyman’s Enquire Within (ed. P. N. Hasluck), 492/2. In the case of ordinary household water taps … they should be taken to pieces and new leather washers … fitted and fixed on to the jumpers.
c. A bearing-plate of iron placed under the nut of a bolt or tie-rod.
1821. R. Stevenson, in Edin. Philos. Jrnl., V. 246. The under ends of these perpendicular rods … are attached … with screw-nuts, resting upon corresponding washers, or plates of iron.
1839. [see tie-rod, TIE- 3].
1859. Gwilt, Archit. (ed. 4), Add. to Gloss., Washer, a flat piece of iron, or other metal, pierced with a hole for the passage of a screw, between whose nut and the timber it is placed.
1875. Knight, Dict. Mech., Wall-washer, a large plate at the end of a tie-rod to extend the external bearing.
d. Comb.
1839. Ure, Dict. Arts, etc. 1027. Its other face … receives the flat ring x … in four notches corresponding to the four projections of the washer-ring.
1849. J. Glynn Constr. Cranes, 108. The strong cast-iron cross, into which the crane is stepped, lays hold of the masonry by means of the holding-down bolts and washer-plates.
Hence Washerless a., without a washer.
1908. Cassell’s Handyman’s Enquire Within (ed. P. N. Hasluck), 493/1. Washerless Water-tap (Lord Kelvin’s).
