Weldments

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A structure formed by joining two or more metal pieces together through welding processes
2. Components that are fabricated to become part of a larger assembly through fusion methods
3. Units created from metal distinctively united to achieve structural integrity and support in engineering applications

Etymology: "Weldments" is the plural of "weldment," a noun built from the verb "weld" plus the suffix "-ment." The suffix comes down from Latin "-mentum," which forms nouns meaning the result or product of an action, and it reached English through Old French "-ment." English has used it for centuries to turn verbs into nouns for things produced by the verb's action, so a weldment is literally the thing that has been welded. The word is a plain, technical formation rather than a coinage with a famous backstory. Its sense has narrowed over time into engineering practice, where it names a fabricated assembly of separately shaped metal pieces joined by welding into one structural unit, such as a frame, beam, or machine base. Its specialized use reflects how the suffix was readily applied to modern industrial processes, long after the suffix itself was established in the language.

Synonyms: joints, assemblies