Caster

/ˈkæstər/ noun

Definition

A small wheel attached to the bottom of furniture that allows it to roll, or a container with holes for sprinkling salt or sugar.

Etymology

Possibly from 'cast' (to throw) or from a person's name. The wheel meaning emerged in the 18th century; the sprinkling container (like a caster sugar shaker) came later.

Kelly Says

Caster wheels seem simple, but they're engineered so the wheel swivels and the axis is offset, which creates an invisible force called 'caster angle' that magically keeps rolling chairs from spinning wildly.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.