What is "check nut"

Nut \Nut\ (n[u^]t), n. [OE. nute, note, AS. hnutu; akin to D. noot, G. nuss, OHG. nuz, Icel. hnot, Sw. n["o]t, Dan. n["o]d.]

1. (Bot.) The fruit of certain trees and shrubs (as of the almond, walnut, hickory, beech, filbert, etc.), consisting of a hard and indehiscent shell inclosing a kernel.

2. A perforated block (usually a small piece of metal), provided with an internal or female screw thread, used on a bolt, or screw, for tightening or holding something, or for transmitting motion. See Illust. of 1st Bolt.

3. The tumbler of a gunlock.
   --Knight.

4. (Naut.) A projection on each side of the shank of an anchor, to secure the stock in place.

5. pl. Testicles. [vulgar slang]

   Check nut, Jam nut, Lock nut, a nut which is screwed up tightly against another nut on the same bolt or screw, in order to prevent accidental unscrewing of the first nut.

   Nut buoy. See under Buoy.

   Nut coal, screened coal of a size smaller than stove coal and larger than pea coal; -- called also chestnut coal.

   Nut crab (Zo["o]l.), any leucosoid crab of the genus Ebalia as, Ebalia tuberosa of Europe.

   Nut grass (Bot.), See nut grass in the vocabulary.

   Nut lock, a device, as a metal plate bent up at the corners, to prevent a nut from becoming unscrewed, as by jarring.

   Nut pine. (Bot.) See under Pine.

   Nut rush (Bot.), a genus of cyperaceous plants ( Scleria) having a hard bony achene. Several species are found in the United States and many more in tropical regions.

   Nut tree, a tree that bears nuts.

   Nut weevil (Zo["o]l.), any species of weevils of the genus Balaninus and other allied genera, which in the larval state live in nuts.

Check \Check\ (ch[e^]k), n. [OE. chek, OF. eschec, F. ['e]chec, a stop, hindrance, orig. check in the game of chess, pl. ['e]checs chess, through Ar., fr. Pers. sh[=a]h king. See Shah, and cf. Checkmate, Chess, Checker.]

1. (Chess) A word of warning denoting that the king is in danger; such a menace of a player's king by an adversary's move as would, if it were any other piece, expose it to immediate capture. A king so menaced is said to be in check, and must be made safe at the next move.

2. A condition of interrupted or impeded progress; arrest; stop; delay; as, to hold an enemy in check.

   Which gave a remarkable check to the first progress of Christianity.
   --Addison.

   No check, no stay, this streamlet fears.
   --Wordsworth.

3. Whatever arrests progress, or limits action; an obstacle, guard, restraint, or rebuff.

   Useful check upon the administration of government.
   --Washington.

   A man whom no check could abash.
   --Macaulay.

4. A mark, certificate, or token, by which, errors may be prevented, or a thing or person may be identified; as, checks placed against items in an account; a check given for baggage; a return check on a railroad.

5. A written order directing a bank or banker to pay money as therein stated. See Bank check, below.

6. A woven or painted design in squares resembling the patten of a checkerboard; one of the squares of such a design; also, cloth having such a figure.

7. (Falconry) The forsaking by a hawk of its proper game to follow other birds.

8. Small chick or crack.

   Bank check, a written order on a banker or broker to pay money in his keeping belonging to the signer.

   Check book, a book containing blank forms for checks upon a bank.

   Check hook, a hook on the saddle of a harness, over which a checkrein is looped.

   Check list, a list or catalogue by which things may be verified, or on which they may be checked.

   Check nut (Mech.), a secondary nut, screwing down upon the primary nut to secure it.
   --Knight.

   Check valve (Mech.), a valve in the feed pipe of a boiler, or other conduit, to prevent the return of the feed water or other fluid.

   To take check, to take offense. [Obs.]
   --Dryden.

   Syn: Hindrance; setback; interruption; obstruction; reprimand; censure; rebuke; reproof; repulse; rebuff; tally; counterfoil; counterbalance; ticket; draft.