I. ˈtägəl noun
( -s )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: origin unknown
1. : a piece or device for holding or securing: as
a. : a wood or metal pin inserted in a nautical knot to make it more secure or easier to slip
b.
(1) : any crosspiece attached to the end of or to a loop in something (as a chain, rope, line, strap, belt) usually to prevent slipping, to serve in twisting or tightening, or to hold something attached
the toggle of a watch chain
use a stick as a toggle in tightening a rope
(2) : an object (as a chain or rope) with such a device
c. : a rod or screw with a T-head crosspiece or with a cone-shaped compressible nut that can pass through a hole in one direction but not in the opposite direction
d. : a button or frog capable of being engaged or disengaged for temporary purposes
e. : a short length of rope with a swivel and loop for tethering an animal
f. : a strap or cord fastened to the rear doorpost in an automobile as a handhold for passengers
g. : toggle chain
2.
a. : toggle joint
b. : a device having a toggle joint
c. : one of the bars of a toggle joint
II. transitive verb
( toggled ; toggled ; toggling -g(ə)liŋ ; toggles )
1. : to fasten with or as if with a toggle : hold fast with or as if with a toggle iron
the sergeant would … toggle his holster — Time
2.
a. : to furnish with a toggle
b. : to mend (as a harness) in makeshift or bungling fashion especially with pieces of rope
a toggled machine in danger of going to pieces at any moment — Hamlin Garland
c. dialect : to add decoration to : make prettier : dress up
put an ornament on a dress to toggle it up
3. : to release (a bomb) from an airplane by a toggle switch instead of relying on the automatic release triggered by the bombsight
all he had to do was toggle the bombs out — Bert Stiles
III. verb
intransitive verb
: to switch between two options especially of an electronic device usually by pressing a single button or a simple key combination