fastener
UK: ˈfɑːs.nər | US: ˈfæs.nər
n. a device (such as a button, zipper, or hook) used to hold two parts of something together
n. a person or thing that fastens
The word "fastener" derives from the verb "fasten," which originated from Old English fæstnian ("to make firm or fixed"), itself rooted in fæst ("firm, secure"). The suffix "-er" is an agentive suffix in English, indicating a person or thing that performs an action. Thus, a "fastener" is literally "something that fastens." The term reflects the functional purpose of objects like buttons, clips, or bolts, which secure items in place.
The jacket's fastener broke, leaving it flapping open in the wind.
She replaced the old zipper with a more durable fastener.
Velcro is a popular fastener for children's shoes.
The carpenter selected a metal fastener to join the wooden beams.
This type of fastener is commonly used in aerospace engineering.