fifth wheel
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fifth wheel
- /ˌfɪfθ ˈʍiːl/ UK
- /-ˈwiːl/ UK
- /ˌfɪfθ ˈʍil/ US
- /-ˈwil/ US
Where it comes from
From the fact that since many vehicles such as carriages, coaches, wagons, prime movers, and trucks generally have four wheels on which they move, this component which resembles a wheel is the fifth.
* (anything superfluous or unnecessary): Sense 3 refers to the fact that a fifth wheel is not needed for a four-wheeled vehicle to operate.
noun fifth wheels · 5th wheel
- A type of trailer hitch, which consists of a horseshoe-shaped plate on a multidirectional pivot, with a locking pin to couple with the kingpin of a truck trailer. In most forms of semi-trailers a great deal of time is wasted in connecting the trailer to the tractor or pulling vehicle. Most of the connecting gears are some form of fifth wheel, consisting of two horizontal circular bands of iron, one fitting on top of the other, with grease between and with a b
- In full, fifth-wheel trailer: a large caravan or travel trailer that is connected to a pickup truck for towing by a hitch similar to the one described in sense 1 located in the center of the truck's bed. Fifth-wheel hitching is a simple affair compared to trailer coupling. Choose a quality hitch and don't overburden an inadequate pickup truck with a big fifth wheel and you're almost in business.
- A horizontal wheel or segment of a wheel above the front axle and beneath the body of a carriage, forming an extended support to prevent it from overturning. Full fifth-wheels have become quite frequent of late, and it may not be out of place to make a few remarks on their merits as compared with half fifth-wheels. With the exception of heavy coaches and rockaways, nearly all vehicles were until lately made with half fifth-wheels; but at present we find
-
Anything superfluous or unnecessary.
I felt like a fifth wheel when both of them started giggling and making out during dinner.
Similar: spare tool, third wheel
-
An unwanted person accompanying two couples on a double date.
Similar: spare tool, third wheel
Translations
Every language
noun type of trailer hitch
| Español | quinta rueda |
|---|---|
| Français | sellette |
| Deutsch | Sattelkupplung |
noun anything superfluous or unnecessary
| Español | quedarse tocando el violín |
|---|---|
| 日本語 | 無用の長物 muyō no chōbutsu, 長物 chōbutsu |
| 中文 | 燈泡 /灯泡 dēng pào, 燈泡兒 /灯泡儿 dēng pàor, 電燈泡 /电灯泡 diàndēng pào, 電燈泡兒 /电灯泡儿 diàndēng pàor |
| Português | quinta roda, peso morto |
| Français | cinquième roue du carrosse |
| Deutsch | fünftes Rad, fünftes Rad am Wagen |
| Italiano | ultima ruota del carro |
| Română | a cincea roată la căruță |
| Русский | пя́тое колесо́ pjátoje kolesó, пя́тая нога́ pjátaja nogá |
| العربية | الصنيَة |
Talk about this word "fifth wheel." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/fifth%20wheel. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. fifth wheel. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/fifth%20wheel "fifth wheel." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/fifth%20wheel.Cite this
@misc{fifth_wheel_2026,
title = {fifth wheel},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/fifth%20wheel},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
