the.com/swivel
The only joint in design that lets furniture pretend it has opinions.
means To turn smoothly around a central pivot point, or the fitting that allows one part to rotate freely while attached to another.
from Traces back to Old English 'swifan,' meaning to move in a course or sweep around — kin to 'swift.' The sense narrowed over time to the specific rotating motion we now associate with chairs, hooks, and anything that spins in place while staying put.
- origin
- from old english meaning to revolve or turn
- office icon
- the chair, patented in 1849 by Thomas Warren
- physics trick
- separates rotation from the thing it is attached to
- petty use
- swivel chairs made villain monologues possible