small endn.adj.
/ˈsmɔːl ɛnd/, U.S. /ˈsmɔl ˌɛnd/, /ˈsmɑl ˌɛnd/ A. n.
In a piston engine: the end of the connecting rod nearest to the piston. Cf. big end n. at big adj. and adv. Compounds 2.
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society > occupation and work > equipment > machine > machines which impart power > engine > internal-combustion engine > [noun] > piston > parts of
small end1846
little end1868
skirt1913
1846 Artizan May 87/2 The top of the piston-rod is secured by a cutter into a socket with jaws, through the holes of which a cross-head passes, which is embraced between the jaws by the small end of the connecting rod, while the ends of the cross-head move in guides.
1906 Autocar Handbk. ii. 38 The gudgeon pin end of the connecting rod is called the small end, and the other the big end.
1971 B. Scharf Engin. & its Lang. xii. 122 Connecting rods... They comprise a big end..and a small end through which the gudgeon pin..passes.
2010 E. J. Staffel Chevrolet Small-Block Parts Interchange Man. 49/3 Some folks have the small end bushed when using a floating pin.
B. adj.
attributive. Of or relating to the small end in an engine.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > machine > machines which impart power > engine > internal-combustion engine > [adjective] > powered by piston engine > part of piston engine
small end1922
1922 Encycl. Brit. XXX. 36/2 The ordinary small-end bronze bush system with gudgeon pins fixed in the piston was used.
1948 A. W. Judge Mod. Motor Engineer (ed. 4) I. ix. 208 After a considerable period of running..the small-end bush may wear oval, due to the more or less vertical thrust of the connecting rod.
2003 M. Walker Japanese Production Racing Motorcycles ix. 280 The RD56 blew a small end bearing whilst laying in 2nd place behind his team mate!
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2012; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.adj.1846