gasket

[ gas-kit ]

noun

1. a rubber, metal, or rope ring, for packing a piston or placing around a joint to make it watertight.
2. Nautical. any of a number of light lines for securing a furled sail to a boom, gaff, or yard.

gasket

/ ˈɡæskɪt /

noun

1. a compressible packing piece of paper, rubber, asbestos, etc, sandwiched between the faces or flanges of a joint to provide a seal
2. nautical a piece of line used as a sail stop
3. blow a gasket slang.
   to burst out in anger

Word History and Origins

Origin of gasket¹

1615–25; perhaps < French garcette a plait of rope

Word History and Origins

Origin of gasket¹

C17 (in the sense: rope lashing a furled sail): probably from French garcette rope's end, literally: little girl, from Old French garce girl, feminine of gars boy, servant

Idioms and Phrases

see under blow a fuse .

Example Sentences

Another was out of service due to a blown head gasket.

From Los Angeles Times

Dad would blow a gasket if he knew I was considering using it, but I’m outta options here.

From Literature

These final two weeks of the regular season are a balancing act for Roberts and the Dodgers, who want to keep their foot firmly on the gas pedal as they head toward October but not to the point where they might blow a head gasket.

From Los Angeles Times

He failed to install a new wax gasket to account for the extra thickness of the new laminate flooring.

From Seattle Times

While the flooring contractor’s intentions may have been good, he broke the all-important toilet gasket seal and buried the toilet flange with the new laminate flooring.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• stopper