collet

American  

[kol-it] / ˈkɒl ɪt /

noun

1. a collar or enclosing band.

2. the enclosing rim within which a jewel is set.

3. a slotted cylindrical clamp inserted tightly into the tapered interior of a sleeve or chuck on a lathe to hold a cylindrical piece of work.

4. Horology. the tiny collar that supports the inner terminal of a hairspring.

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verb (used with object)

colleted, colleting

1. to set (a gem or other stone) in a collet.

collet British  

/ ˈkɒlɪt /

noun

1. (in a jewellery setting) a band or coronet-shaped claw that holds an individual stone

2. mechanical engineering an externally tapered sleeve made in two or more segments and used to grip a shaft passed through its centre when the sleeve is compressed by being inserted in a tapered hole

3. horology a small collar that supports the inner end of the hairspring

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verb

1. (tr) jewellery to mount in a collet

Etymology

Origin of collet

1520–30; < French, equivalent to col neck (< Latin collum ) + -et -et

Example Sentences

He pulled the bolt and bored out the collet with a hand drill and resleeved it with a section of pipe he’d cut to length with a hacksaw.

From "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy

A small keyway is provided in the collet into which a tapering key of flat stock may be driven against the end of the tongue to drive the drill from the spindle.

From Aviation Engines Design?Construction?Operation and Repair by Pag?, Victor Wilfred

This will cause the pinning point at collet to be shifted from "A" to "B" and bring it that much nearer to the horizontal line "C."

From Rules and Practice for Adjusting Watches by Kleinlein, Walter J.

The most positive alteration to be made under the circumstances was to break off the spring at the collet and repin it at about 45� above the horizontal line.

From Rules and Practice for Adjusting Watches by Kleinlein, Walter J.

It consists of four chasers or toothed cutting tools, inserted in radial recesses or slots in an iron disc or collet encircled by an iron ring.

From Modern Machine-Shop Practice, Volumes I and II by Rose, Joshua