Why Is The Wrench Called A Monkey Wrench?

Why Is The Wrench Called A Monkey Wrench? Hall sent a clip from World Wide Words, an etymology website, which suggested that the wrench got its animalistic moniker because it was similar to a “key wrench,” but was different enough to be called a “non-key” wrench. That awkward phrasing was then corrupted to “monkey wrench.”

What Is The Difference Between A Wrench And A Spanner?

What Is The Difference Between A Wrench And A Spanner? In North American English, wrench is the standard term. The most common shapes are called open-end wrench and box-end wrench. In American English, spanner refers to a specialized wrench with a series of pins or tabs around the circumference. What do Brits call a spanner?