English Explanatory Dictionary

fifth wheel

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A type of trailer hitch, which consists of a horseshoe-shaped plate on a multidirectional pivot, with a locking pin to couple with the kingpin of a truck trailer.
  2. In full, fifth-wheel trailer: a large caravan or travel trailer that is connected to a pickup truck for towing by a hitch similar to the one described in sense 1 located in the center of the truck's bed.
  3. A horizontal wheel or segment of a wheel above the front axle and beneath the body of a carriage, forming an extended support to prevent it from overturning.
  4. Anything superfluous or unnecessary.
  5. An unwanted person accompanying two couples on a double date.

Pronunciation

/ˌfɪfθ ˈʍiːl/ /-ˈwiːl/ /ˌfɪfθ ˈʍil/ /-ˈwil/ En-au-fifth wheel.ogg

Word forms

fifth wheel fifth wheels 5th wheel

Etymology

From the fact that since many vehicles such as carriages, coaches, wagons, prime movers, and trucks generally have four wheels on which they move, this component which resembles a wheel is the fifth. * (anything superfluous or unnecessary): Sense 3 refers to the fact that a fifth wheel is not needed for a four-wheeled vehicle to operate.

Synonyms

spare tool third wheel

Translations

Danish: sættevognskobling Danish: femte hjul French: sellette French: cinquième roue du carrosse German: Sattelkupplung German: fünftes Rad German: fünftes Rad am Wagen Norwegian Bokmål: svingskive Norwegian Nynorsk: svingskive Polish: piąte koło Polish: piąte koło u wozu Spanish: quinta rueda Spanish: quedarse tocando el violín Swedish: vändskiva Swedish: femte hjulet Arabic: الصنيَة Chinese Mandarin: 燈泡 /灯泡 Chinese Mandarin: 燈泡兒 /灯泡儿 Chinese Mandarin: 電燈泡 /电灯泡 Chinese Mandarin: 電燈泡兒 /电灯泡儿 Czech: páté kolo u vozu Czech: točna Dutch: 't vijfde wiel (aan de wagen) Finnish: kolmas pyörä Georgian: მეხუთე ბორბალი Hungarian: felesleges Hungarian: ötödik kerék Icelandic: aðskotadýr Italian: ultima ruota del carro Japanese: 無用の長物 Japanese: 長物 Lithuanian: penkta koja Portuguese: quinta roda Portuguese: peso morto Romanian: a cincea roată la căruță Russian: пя́тое колесо́ Russian: пя́тая нога́ Slovak: piate koleso u voza
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