spanner

[ span-er ]

noun

1. a person or thing that spans. span.
2. Also called spanner wrench. a wrench having a curved head with a hook or pin at one end for engaging notches or holes in collars, certain kinds of nuts, etc. Compare pin wrench.
3. Chiefly British. a wrench, especially one with fixed jaws.

spanner

/ ˈspænə /

noun

1. a steel hand tool with a handle carrying jaws or a hole of particular shape designed to grip a nut or bolt head
2. informal.
   a source of impediment or annoyance (esp in the phrase throw a spanner in the works )

Word History and Origins

Origin of spanner¹

First recorded in 1630–40; span ¹ + -er ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of spanner¹

C17: from German, from spannen to stretch, span ¹

Example Sentences

The sync is off for the voices on the film, yet another spanner in the works.

From Los Angeles Times

"In these early epochs, the amount of gas around galaxies is so large that continuous star formation is the norm. But in this galaxy this process is not happening; there is a spanner in the cogs of the star-forming 'machinery.'"

From Salon

The temptation is to assume it was the pandemic that threw a spanner in the works – after all it led to a dramatic fall in treatments being done, and the waiting list to balloon.

From BBC

That included former US President Donald Trump, whose possible return to the White House could throw a spanner in the work of the transatlantic relationship, which lies at the heart of this premier international forum.

From BBC

But this legal action could throw a spanner into that timeline.

From BBC