What does eyebolt mean?
An eyebolt is a metal fastener distinguished by a closed ring — the "eye" — at one end of a threaded shank. This loop provides a secure attachment point through which a rope, cable, chain, hook, or shackle can be threaded, making the eyebolt indispensable wherever heavy loads must be lifted, suspended, or anchored. Eyebolts appear across construction sites, factories, ships, and theatrical rigging: a crane may lift a turbine using eyebolts embedded in its casing, while a sailor might run a halyard through an eyebolt on a mast. They come in several designs, including plain-pattern and shoulder-pattern versions, forged from steel for strength. Because an overloaded or improperly seated eyebolt can fail catastrophically under load, safety standards strictly govern their working load limits. The word combines two plain English roots — "eye," for the ring's shape, and "bolt" — and remains a precise, practical term in technical English.
nounA metal bolt or screw with a ring-shaped loop (an "eye") at one end, through which a rope, chain, hook, or shackle can be passed. It is used as an anchoring or lifting point in rigging, construction, and marine applications.
- A fastener consisting of a threaded shank topped by a closed ring (the eye), used as an attachment point for ropes, chains, hooks, or shackles in rigging, lifting, and securing loads.
"The workers secured the crane's lifting hook to the eyebolt fixed into the concrete beam."
"Before hoisting the engine block, the mechanic double-checked that the eyebolt was fully tightened into its tapped hole."
"The sailmaker spliced the halyard through a stainless steel eyebolt mounted on the mast."
Regular plural; standard in both British and American English.
"Four forged eyebolts were fitted to the corners of the crate before it was lifted."
That little ring on top of a boulder-sized industrial machine isn't decoration — it's an eyebolt, and it's how multi-ton equipment gets lifted by crane without being crushed.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of eyebolt
The word "eyebolt" is a straightforward English compound formed from "eye," referring to the ring-shaped loop, and "bolt," the threaded fastener. The metaphor of an "eye" for a small circular opening is long established in English, appearing in terms such as "needle's eye." The compound arose naturally in technical and nautical vocabulary, likely during the period of expanding industrial and maritime engineering, though a precise date of first attestation is not firmly established.
How eyebolt is actually used
"Eyebolt" is a technical term most common in engineering, construction, maritime, and rigging contexts. It is neutral in register. In casual speech it may be described more loosely as a "ring bolt" or "eye screw," though specialists distinguish these: an eye screw typically has a wood-screw thread while an eyebolt is designed for machine-threaded holes or use with a nut.
Easily confused with eyebolt
An ordinary bolt is simply a threaded fastener with a head, whereas an eyebolt has a ring-shaped loop at one end for attaching ropes or hooks.