Plain English Meaning

Tiny metal pins that hold the metal skin and structure of an airplane together. Once installed, they stay in place permanently — they are not screws and they don't unscrew.

Full Definition

Small metal fasteners used to permanently join sheets of metal in aircraft construction. A rivet is inserted through aligned holes in two or more pieces of material and then deformed (the tail end is hammered or pressed flat) so it cannot be pulled back out, locking the pieces together.

Context Anchor

Seen during preflight inspection of the wings, tail surfaces, and other exterior metal panels.

Derivation

From the Old French 'river,' meaning to fix or fasten. The word has been used for centuries to fasteners that, once set, are not meant to come apart.