A small ring or band, usually made of metal, that holds something tightly in place, like the part of a drill that grips a bit.
From French 'collet,' diminutive of 'col' (neck), from Latin 'collum.' The term originally referred to a neck-like constriction, then evolved to describe any tight-fitting collar or band used in mechanical devices.
Engineers borrowed the word 'collet' from fashion—just as a neck collar fits snugly around the throat, a collet in machinery creates that same secure, circular grip, showing how technical language often borrows from everyday clothing.
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