arrestor
|ar-res-tor|
🇺🇸
/əˈrɛstər/
🇬🇧
/əˈrɛstə/
something that stops
Etymology
'arrestor' originates from English, formed from the verb 'arrest' plus the agentive suffix '-or', meaning 'one or something that arrests (stops)'.
'arrest' comes from Old French 'arester' (to stop, stay), ultimately from Vulgar Latin *'arrestare' (from Latin elements 'ad-' + 'restare' meaning 'to remain' or 'to stand fast'), and English formed the agent noun 'arrestor' by adding '-or'.
Initially related to the action 'to stop' or 'to detain,' the term evolved to refer not only to the act but also to devices or agents that stop motion or electrical surges; the current meaning commonly denotes a physical device that halts or diverts.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a protective device used in electrical systems to divert excessive voltage (surge or lightning) to ground, preventing damage to equipment; also called a surge arrester or lightning arrestor.
The power company replaced the old arrestor after the lightning strike to protect the transformer.
Synonyms
Noun 2
a device or component that stops or arrests motion, such as the arresting gear on an aircraft carrier (cable) or an aircraft's arrestor hook used to halt landing aircraft.
On final approach the pilot lowered the arrestor hook so it would catch the deck's arrestor cable.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/10/19 05:50