Origins of car parts names

[Pantechnicon]

So after a few to many ales I start thinking where does the origin of piston come from?
I mean gull wing door is self explanatory so is bevel gear, bore,camshaft etc but piston?
So give me what you’ve got.

[glenrobbo]

Piston broke, eh?

Never mind.

It's not as bad as a blown fanimold. Or excessive droop. Or your big end gone.

[FlossyThePig]

According to my Compact Edition of the OED (2 volume, 4 pages printed on each page, very small print) it derives from an old Italian word for pestle.

[Roofless Toothless]

I was always very fond of the banjo connector on my Caterham.

[SimonTheSailor]

What's bevel gear, camshaft ?

[Spare tyre]

Big END was named after me

Also the wankel

[glenrobbo]

Gudgeon Woodruff-Spigot.

Pushrod Layshaft-Bellcrank.

Goodwoody names.


And one for you continental types out there: Zorst Auspuffskrummer.

[glenrobbo]

I really can't explain the origins of "Stroked and bored" on this forum without getting a ban by the mods.
But I do have a bore-honing tool tucked safely away.

[peterperkins]

Joking aside about the innuendos is that really where they all came from?

It actually wouldn't surprise me, as basically we have always seen things in a sexual light, it's an inherited natural trait.

So your big end and gudgeon pin who knows..

[defblade]

Well, the big end was named so as the other other end of a con rod is smaller...
...the Woodruff key was named by its inventor, Mr Woodruff...
...cams existed before camshafts, which is a shaft with cams on, so no excitement there...

...and I'm about out

[john2443]

Wiki said:

The word carburetor comes from the French carbure meaning "carbide". Carburer means to combine with carbon (compare also carburizing). In fuel chemistry, the term has the more specific meaning of increasing the carbon (and therefore energy) content of a fluid by mixing it with a volatile hydrocarbon.

Also -

Wiki said:

The first carburetor was invented by Samuel Morey in 1826

So he then had to wait 50 years until someone invent an engine to bolt it to!

[Equus]

SimonTheSailor said:

What's bevel gear, camshaft ?

According to the dictionary:

Bevel gear = a gear (Old Norse 'gervi', meaning equipment or paraphernalia) with a bevelled (angled) shape (bevel from old French, meaning 'open mouthed')

Camshaft = a shaft (from ancient Greek skeptesthai, to prop oneself up) with cams on it (from German kamm, meaning 'comb').

Bore = from old Norse 'bora', (borehole), derivative of the word meaning 'to pierce'

[tribbles]

Spare tyre said:

Big END was named after me

Also the wankel

I think that was bell, not big

[DuckDuck]

The mighty "Jiggle pin" I always thought that was a windup .....when you see one it does jiggle I suppose.

[Riley Blue]

'Clutch' anyone?

[Equus]

Riley Blue said:

'Clutch' anyone?

Isn't it obvious? It's a component that 'grabs' another one, to form a link in the transmission.

Clutch : the act of grasping or holding on to.

[Riley Blue]

Equus said:

Riley Blue said:

'Clutch' anyone?

Isn't it obvious? It's a component that 'grabs' another one, to form a link in the transmission.

Clutch : the act of grasping or holding on to.

I thought that was a bit too obvious but I suppose it must be the answer.

[anonymous-user]

Riley Blue said:

'Clutch' anyone?

Oh yes, In Walks Barbarella, Set To Stun

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZ9GSFZZY6c

[Dogwatch]

Pushrods push

Tappets tap

Crankshafts errr, are cranked

Pistons and valves would be terms 'borrowed' from steam engines so predate the internal combustion engine, and probably predate the steam engine too.

[gazzarose]

Dash board, is brought forward from the board at the front of a cast that would stop the stones hitting the people on board.