Topic summary
Spanner
Extracted from the Wikipedia article Wrench.
Etymology
'Spanner' came into use in the 1630s, referring to the tool for winding the spring of a wheel-lock firearm. From GermanSpanner (n.), from spannen (v.) ("to join, fasten, extend, connect"), from Proto-Germanic*spannan, from PIE root *(s)pen- ("to draw, stretch, spin").