Fifth wheel — Wheel Wheel (hw[=e]l), n. [OE. wheel, hweol, AS. hwe[ o]l, hweogul, hweowol; akin to D. wiel, Icel. hv[=e]l, Gr. ky klos, Skr. cakra; cf. Icel. hj[=o]l, Dan. hiul, Sw. hjul. [root]218. Cf. {Cycle}, {Cyclopedia}.] [1913 Webster] 1. A circular… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Fifth wheel — Fifth Fifth, a. [OE. fifte, fifthe, AS. f[=i]fta. See {Five}.] 1. Next in order after the fourth; the ordinal of five. [1913 Webster] 2. Consisting of one of five equal divisions of a thing. [1913 Webster] {Fifth monarchy men} (Hist.), a… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
fifth wheel — (USA) A fifth wheel is something unnecessary or useless … The small dictionary of idiomes
fifth wheel — in a carriage which prevents tipping; spare wheel; something or someone that is unnecessary and burdensome … English contemporary dictionary
fifth wheel — n. 1. a) a horizontal wheel like structure placed over the front axle of a carriage or wagon to support it on turns ☆ b) a similar structure on the rear of the cab of a tractor trailer, serving as a coupling for attaching the trailer 2. an… … English World dictionary
fifth wheel — fifth′ wheel′ n. 1) trs a horizontal ring or segment of a ring, consisting of two bands that slide on each other, placed above the front axle of a carriage and designed to support the forepart of the body while allowing it to turn freely in a… … From formal English to slang
fifth wheel — noun 1. someone or something that is unwanted and unneeded • Syn: ↑deadwood • Hypernyms: ↑redundancy, ↑redundance 2. an extra car wheel and tire for a four wheel vehicle • Syn: ↑spare … Useful english dictionary
fifth wheel — noun a) A type of trailer hitch, which consists of a horseshoe shaped plate on a multi directional pivot, with a locking pin to couple with the kingpin of a truck trailer. As the third person along on their date, I felt like a fifth wheel. b) A… … Wiktionary
fifth wheel — /fɪfθ ˈwil/ (say fifth weel) noun 1. a horizontal ring (or segment of a ring) consisting of two bands which slide on each other, placed above the front axle of a horse drawn carriage and designed to support the forepart of the body while allowing …
fifth wheel — (USA) A fifth wheel is something unnecessary or useless. (Dorking School Dictionary) *** This expression refers to a person who find themselves in a situation where their presence is unnecessary and as a result they feel useless. … … English Idioms & idiomatic expressions
