alligator clip


nounElectricity.
  1. a type of terminal for making temporary electrical connections, consisting of a cliplike device with long, narrow jaws that resemble those of an alligator.

Origin of alligator clip

1
First recorded in 1940–45
  • Also called alligator clamp .

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use alligator clip in a sentence

  • He couldn't control his fingers accurately yet, and he made several attempts to pull the alligator clip off the terminal post.

    The Scarlet Lake Mystery | Harold Leland Goodwin
  • When he had pulled the alligator clip, the board had showed red.

    The Scarlet Lake Mystery | Harold Leland Goodwin