Metal devices that attach a door or lid to a frame, allowing it to swing open and closed.
From Old English 'henge' meaning 'to hang,' related to 'hang.' The connection is that hinges allow something to hang while moving. The word has Germanic roots and has remained relatively unchanged for over 1000 years.
Hinges are ancient technology—archaeologists have found bronze hinges from ancient Rome and Egypt, and they're so perfectly designed that modern hinges are barely improved, which is remarkable given that we've revolutionized nearly everything else in 2000 years.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.