What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Spanner vs Shifter - What's the difference?

spanner | shifter |

In lang=en terms the difference between spanner and shifter

is that spanner is one who, or that which, spans while shifter is one who plays tricks or practices artifice; a cozener.

As nouns the difference between spanner and shifter

is that spanner is a hand tool for adjusting nuts and bolts while shifter is one who, or that which, shifts or changes.

spanner

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • (Australian, NZ, British, Irish) A hand tool for adjusting nuts and bolts.
    • Pass me that spanner , Jake; there's just one more nut to screw in.
  • (rare) One who, or that which, spans.
  • * 1915 , Florence Kiper Frank, The Jew to Jesus: and other poems
    • The scheme of the spanner of continents and the desire of the little husbandman hoarding for his loved ones...
  • (weaponry) A hand tool shaped like a small crank handle, for winding the spring of a wheel lock on a musket.
  • :* 1786 , Fig. 10. The spanner for spanning or winding up the spring of the wheel lock. — Francis Grose, A Treatise on Ancient Armour and Weapons , page xvi.
  • (obsolete) A device in early steam engines for moving the valves for the alternate admission and shutting off of the steam.
  • (UK) A problem, dilemma or obstacle; something unexpected or troublesome (in the phrase spanner in the works )
    • Halfway through the production of Macbeth, the director found that the stage was smaller than he expected. This really threw a spanner in the works.
  • (British, Irish, mildly, derogatory) A stupid or unintelligent person; one prone to making mistakes, especially in language.
    • You spanner , Rodney! I wanted a Chinese, not an Indian!

    Synonyms

    * (hand tool for nuts and bolts) wrench (US)

    Related terms

    * adjustable spanner * ring spanner * spanner barb * throw a spanner in the works

    Descendants

    * Malay: (l)

    Anagrams

    *

    shifter

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • One who, or that which, shifts or changes.
  • (dated) One who plays tricks or practices artifice; a cozener.
    • 'Twas such a shifter that, if truth were known, Death was half glad when he had got him down. — Milton.
  • (nautical) An assistant to the ship's cook in washing, steeping, and shifting the salt provisions.
  • (engineering) An arrangement for shifting a belt sidewise from one pulley to another.
  • (engineering, textiles) A wire for changing a loop from one needle to another, as in narrowing, etc.
  • (cycling) A component used by the rider to control the gearing mechanisms and select the desired gear ratio, usually connected to the derailleur by a mechanical actuation cable.
  • A spanner with an adjustable jaw size.
    • (Webster 1913) English agent nouns