vise
Meaning
A tool with two jaws that can be tightened, usually by a screw, to hold an object firmly in place while work is done on it.
Usage
He secured the piece of wood in a vise before sawing it.
The machinist tightened the vise to hold the metal rod firmly.
A good bench vise is an essential tool for any workshop.
Etymology
The word 'vise' entered English in the early 15th century from the Old French 'vis' or 'vice', which meant 'screw'. This French term itself derived from the Latin 'vitis', meaning 'vine' or 'tendril', due to the visual and functional resemblance of a screw's spiral thread to the winding growth of a vine. The tool's name evolved from the core component—the screw mechanism—that allows its jaws to open and close. Over time, the spelling stabilized as 'vise' in American English, distinguishing it from the unrelated word 'vice', while British English retains the spelling 'vice' for the tool.
Analysis
The word is a simplex. It is a loanword from Old French 'vis' or 'vice', meaning 'screw'.