safety plugn.
/ˈseɪftɪ plʌɡ/, U.S. /ˈseɪfti ˌpləɡ/ 1. A plug or stopper which allows the contents of a container to be quickly and automatically released if the temperature becomes too high or the pressure too great; spec. one made of fusible metal, which melts when the contents become too hot, typically used in a boiler.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > closed or shut condition > that which or one who closes or shuts > [noun] > closure for a vessel, tube, etc. > a bung or plug > specific
safety plug1829
turn-pin1862
1829 T. Gill in Gill's Technol. Repository 5 355 (note) It was in this position, that Mr. Trevitheck placed his safety-plugs, in the bottoms of his high-pressure steam-boilers.
1887 Engineering 11 Nov. 503/2 The fusible safety plug illustrated..has been adopted by the South Wales and Monmouthshire Boiler Insurance Company.
1917 Agric. Digest Oct. 673/3 Replacing burned-out safety plugs with bolts instead of with new fusible plugs is one of the common causes of explosion of tractor boilers.
2008 Edmond (Oklahoma) Sun (Nexis) 8 Nov. Modern pressure cookers have..a safety plug in case the pressure gauge is plugged.
2. A fuse (fuse n.5). Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electricity > circuit > fuse > [noun]
cutout1874
safety catch1881
safety plug1882
fuse1884
tension-fuse1890
plug fuse1905
1882 Engineering 7 July 11/3 Every lamp in the electrolier has its safety plug.
1906 Outlook 6 Jan. 24/2 The burned-out fuse has saved the motor... The motorman gets down to the trucks, inserts another ‘safety-plug’, and the car goes its way.
3. A piece of plastic in the shape of an electrical plug which is used to cover a socket and protect against accidental electrocution (esp. of young children).
ΚΠ
1983 Globe & Mail (Toronto) (Nexis) 31 May You should also install child safety plugs and cap insulator pads in outlets that are not in use to prevent drafts through the outlet holes.
2008 Daily News (N.Y.) (Nexis) 24 June 20 The electric outlet had no safety plug to keep 2-year-old Josian Garcia Camacho from sticking in a key as any kid his age might.
This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, September 2011; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
n.1829