Swiv"el (?), n. [AS. swifan to move quickly, to remove; akin to Icel. sveifla to whirl, shake, svifa to ramble, to turn. See Swoop, and cf. Swift a reel, Swift, a.]
1. Mech.
A piece, as a ring or hook, attached to another piece by a pin, in such a manner as to permit rotation about the pin as an axis.
2. Mil.
A small piece of ordnance, turning on a point or swivel; -- called also swivel gun.
Wilhelm.
Swivel bridge, a kind of drawbridge that turns round on a vertical axis; a swing bridge. -- Swivel hook, a hook connected with the iron strap of a pulley block by a swivel joint, for readily taking the turns out of a tackle. -- Swivel joint, a joint, the two pieces composing which turn round, with respect to each other, on a longitudinal pin or axis, as in a chain, to prevent twisting.
© Webster 1913.
Swiv"el, v. i.
To swing or turn, as on a pin or pivot.
© Webster 1913.