arrestors
|a-res-tors|
🇺🇸
/əˈrɛstərz/
🇬🇧
/əˈrɛstəz/
(arrestor)
something that stops
Etymology
'arrestor' originates from Old French 'arester' (from Vulgar Latin 'arrestare'), where the prefix 'ar-'/'ad-' meant 'to' or 'toward' and 'restare' meant 'to remain, stand fast'.
'arrestor' developed through Middle English from Old French 'arester' (to stop; Middle English 'arresten'), and later gained the agent/instrument suffix '-or' to form a noun meaning an instrument that arrests.
Initially related to the verb meaning 'to stop or seize', over time it came to denote an instrument or device that stops, and later acquired specialized technical senses (e.g., lightning arresters, flame arrestors).
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a device that protects electrical equipment from high-voltage surges by diverting or dissipating the surge (also called a lightning arrester or surge arrester).
The arrestors on the substation prevented damage during the lightning storm.
Synonyms
Noun 2
a device or mechanism used to stop or slow the motion of a moving object, such as aircraft arresting gear or vehicle arrestors.
Carrier arrestors help landing aircraft stop quickly on the deck.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/10/19 06:04