Swiv"el (?), n. [AS. swīfan
to move quickly, to remove; akin to Icel. sveifla to whirl,
shake, svīfa 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.
Swiv"el, v. i. To swing or turn, as
on a pin or pivot.