What is "split pin"

Split \Split\, a.

1. Divided; cleft.

2. (Bot.) Divided deeply; cleft.

3. (Exchanges)

   1. Divided so as to be done or executed part at one time or price and part at another time or price; -- said of an order, sale, etc.

   2. Of quotations, given in sixteenth, quotations in eighths being regular; as, 103/16 is a split quotation.

   3. (London Stock Exchange) Designating ordinary stock that has been divided into preferred ordinary and deferred ordinary.

      Split pease, hulled pease split for making soup, etc.

      Split pin (Mach.), a pin with one end split so that it may be spread open to secure it in its place.

      Split pulley, a parting pulley. See under Pulley.

      Split ring, a ring with overlapped or interlocked ends which may be sprung apart so that objects, as keys, may be strung upon the ring or removed from it.

      Split ticket, a ballot in which a voter votes for a portion of the candidates nominated by one party, candidates of other parties being substituted for those omitted. [U.S.]

A split pin, also known in the United States as a cotter pin or cotter key, is a metal fastener with two tines that are bent during installation, similar to a staple or rivet. Typically made of thick wire with a half-circular cross section, split pins come in multiple sizes and types.

The British definition of "cotter pin" is equivalent to U.S. term " cotter", which can be a cause for confusion when companies of both countries work together. There are signs that manufacturers and stockists are increasingly listing both names together to avoid confusion; this led to the term split cotter sometimes being used for a split pin.