quick-release
|quick-re-lease|
/ˌkwɪk rɪˈliːs/
fast detachment
Etymology
'quick-release' is a compound formed in Modern English from 'quick' + 'release'; 'quick' (Old English 'cwic') meant 'alive, rapid', and 'release' comes from Old French (e.g. 'releser') ultimately from Latin roots meaning 'to loosen/free'.
'quick' originates from Old English 'cwic' and 'release' passed into Middle English from Old French 'releser' (from Latin-derived roots); the compound 'quick-release' arose in technical usage in Modern English (20th century) to describe mechanisms for rapid detachment.
The separate elements originally meant 'alive/rapid' and 'to free/loosen'; combined in modern usage they specifically denote a device or feature that allows 'rapid freeing/detachment'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a device or mechanism that allows something to be released, detached, or removed quickly without tools (e.g., a quick-release skewer on a bicycle wheel).
The bike's quick-release lets you remove the wheel without tools.
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Noun 2
a plate, clamp, or fitting (often for cameras or tripods) designed to attach and detach equipment quickly.
He mounted the camera on the quick-release so he could swap lenses quickly.
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Verb 1
to release or detach quickly (used transitively; less common).
To remove the wheel, quick-release the skewer before pulling it out.
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Adjective 1
designed for or allowing rapid detachment or release.
Attach the camera to the quick-release tripod plate before you start shooting.
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Last updated: 2025/10/25 21:18