Just seen an add on TV for washing machine which got me too thinking, why do we call washers washers, as in the washers we put behind nuts n bolts......... ?

Hi perhaps this should be in the topic below ( un-answerable question)

Wont be sleeping tonight thinking about that one cheers

cheers matt

From http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=washer

"flat ring for sealing joints or holding nuts," 1346, generally considered an agent noun of wash (q.v.), but the sense connection is difficult, and the noun may derive instead from the ancestor of Fr. vis "screw, vise."


In other words the word geeks aren't sure

that sound well made up

In case you haven't heard it....

Psycho bursts into launderette, rapes all the women and runs back out. Headline in paper next day - "Nut screws washers and bolts"