A mechanical clamp with two jaws that squeeze together to hold an object firmly in place while working on it.
From Old French 'vis' meaning screw, derived from Latin 'vitis.' The tool's name comes from the screw mechanism that tightens the jaws.
A vise uses screw mechanisms invented by Archimedes—it's one of humanity's oldest tools, and blacksmiths have used nearly identical designs for over 2,000 years, making it one of engineering's most enduring inventions.
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