c. 1300, from Old French levier (Modern French leveur) "a lifter, a lever," agent noun from lever "to raise," from Latin levare "to raise," from levis "light" in weight, from PIE root *legwh- "light, having little weight; easy, agile, nimble" (cognates: Sanskrit laghuh "quick, small;" Greek elakhys "small," elaphros "light;" Old Church Slavonic liguku, Lithuanian lengvas "light;" Old Irish laigiu "smaller, worse;" Gothic leihts, Old English leoht "light" (adj.)). As a verb, 1856, from the noun.
双语例句
1. An elevator mechanic can work the machinery directly by turning this lever.
电梯修理工可以转动这根杠杆直接操作机器。
来自柯林斯例句
2. Press the lever until you hear the catch engage.
压下挡杆，直到听到挡挂好。
来自柯林斯例句
3. I put the coin in the machine and pulled the lever.