universal joint

noun

, Machinery.

1. a coupling between rotating shafts set at an angle to one another, allowing for rotation in three planes.

universal joint

noun

1. a form of coupling between two rotating shafts allowing freedom of angular movement in all directions

Word History and Origins

Origin of universal joint¹

First recorded in 1670–80

Example Sentences

She included an affidavit from her aunt, who said Clyde Harris once broke his wife’s hand with a universal joint from a car.

From Washington Times

To connect sail and scow, Mr. Darby fashioned an 18-inch length of nylon rope into a universal joint, allowing him to turn the sail in any direction and ride confidently in high winds.

From Washington Post

So he created a universal joint using a nylon rope to link the sail to the board.

From New York Times

It was on that trip that Levin got the idea to use the universal joint as a symbol of the nation's emerging trade imbalance.

From Los Angeles Times

He was an amateur boxer in his youth, held jobs where he wore shirts embroidered with the name “Phil” and knew how to rebuild the universal joint of a car’s powertrain.

From Washington Post