The Clevis Pin Controversy

[Christian Williams]

Well, maybe not much of a controversy, but I was recently caught out saying "cleevis" pin.

Had to look it up and found zero support (it's clevis, short "e").

But wait a minute--I learned it as 'cleevis." Anybody else?

I do take refuge behind a wisecrack: "I asked a zebra which was the correct pronunciation, and he agreed with me."

 

[Alan Gomes]

Never heard it pronounced with a long "e." Maybe an East Coast/West Coast difference?

 

[Frank Langer]

Clevis, short e, no question.
Frank

 

[Dave G.]

Absolutely long E. The general rule of english pronunciation is that when a vowel is followed by a single consonant followed by a vowel, the first vowel is long.

 

[Frank Langer]

Absolutely long E. The general rule of english pronunciation is that when a vowel is followed by a single consonant followed by a vowel, the first vowel is long.

Yeah, but English language is strange, lots of exceptions, nothing rational. Clevis is with a short e. Sorry.
Frank

 

[Alan Gomes]

Absolutely long E. The general rule of english pronunciation is that when a vowel is followed by a single consonant followed by a vowel, the first vowel is long.

??? That rule doesn’t sound too clever.

 

[Marlin Prowell]

??? That rule doesn’t sound too clever.

I see what you did there….

 

[Dave G.]

I'm sorry too but I have never heard anyone pronounce it Cl'eh'vis.

 

[Dave G.]

diner/dinner, taping/tapping, siting/sitting...etc

 

[bsangs]

Well, maybe not much of a controversy, but I was recently caught out saying "cleevis" pin.

Based on the replies, guess it is much of a controversy after all.

 

[Prairie Schooner]

Short 'e' for me. 20-ish years Midwest. Nigh on 50 in New England. Language is a fascinating and beautiful thing. Is there a philologist in the house?

 

[Blue Streak]

"Cleevis" growing up on the Chesapeake.

 

[bigd14]

Long e here… only overheard the short e version recently at a hardware store.

 

[Bepi]

The cotter goes into the clevis. Clever. The vessel with the pestle on the other hand....

 

[tenders]

Wow. Sailed on three coasts, north west and east, and never heard “Cleevis.”

Sounds like Clevis might be Clutthead’s friend?

 

[Bolo]

I was raise in NJ and my dad was a machinist for more than 40 years. My brother, until very recently was the National Parts Manager for Subaru, USA. Neither of them ever said “cleevis” when referring to that pin so I was taught to use the short “e” version.

 

[Christian Williams]

Any zebra knows the right answer.

 

[Bepi]

Si.

 

[southofvictor]

Clevis like clever, from Wisconsin where we also say roof like a dog bark not like “rufe“.

 

[Bepi]

Wisdom from the past.