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Rivet vs Muddle - What's the difference?

rivet | muddle |

As nouns the difference between rivet and muddle

is that rivet is a cylindrical mechanical fastener that attaches multiple parts together by fitting through a hole and deforming the head(s) at either end while muddle is a mixture; a confusion; a garble.

As verbs the difference between rivet and muddle

is that rivet is to attach or fasten parts by using rivets while muddle is to mix together, to mix up; to confuse.

rivet

English

(wikipedia rivet)

Noun

(en noun)
  • A cylindrical mechanical fastener that attaches multiple parts together by fitting through a hole and deforming the head(s) at either end.
  • (figuratively) any fixed point or certain basis
  • (obsolete) a light kind of footman's armour (back-formation from almain-rivet)

    • Derived terms

    * rivet counter * pop rivet

    Verb

  • to attach or fasten parts by using rivets
  • to install rivets
  • to command the attention of.
  • * 1912 , (Edgar Rice Burroughs), (Tarzan of the Apes), Chapter 6
    • The furnishings and other contents of the room it was which riveted his attention. He examined many things minutely--strange tools and weapons, books, paper, clothing-- what little had withstood the ravages of time in the humid atmosphere of the jungle coast.

    See also

    * riveters * riveting * riveter * rivets * riveted

    Anagrams

    * ----

    muddle

    English

    Verb

    (muddl)
  • To mix together, to mix up; to confuse.
    • Young children tend to muddle their words.
  • To mash slightly for use in a cocktail.
    • He muddled the mint sprigs in the bottom of the glass.
  • To dabble in mud.
    • (Jonathan Swift)
  • To make turbid or muddy.
  • * L'Estrange
    • He did ill to muddle the water.
  • To think and act in a confused, aimless way.
  • To cloud or stupefy; to render stupid with liquor; to intoxicate partially.
  • * Bentley
    • Their old master Epicurus seems to have had his brains so muddled and confounded with them, that he scarce ever kept in the right way.
  • * Arbuthnot
    • often drunk, always muddled
  • To waste or misuse, as one does who is stupid or intoxicated.
  • * Hazlitt
    • They muddle it [money] away without method or object, and without having anything to show for it.

    Derived terms

    * muddler (agent noun) * muddle along * muddle through * muddle up

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A mixture; a confusion; a garble.
    • The muddle of nervous speech he uttered did not have much meaning.

    Derived terms

    * muddle-headed