noun / verb

shim

SHIM/ʃɪm/

A thin insert that corrects a gap or mismatch.

A thin shim under one leg keeps the table steady.

Close-up of a thin wooden shim filling the small gap beneath a table leg on a slightly uneven floor, with its tapered end visibly supporting the leg.

Etymology

The origin is unknown, though the word appears earlier for an iron piece fitted to a plow to scrape soil. Its gap-filling uses involve thin strips that compensate for wear or raise a level.

In context

Plainly Difficult666:07

they requested a redesign of the joint to include a shim to close the gap in 1978.

Rewind Year 7 of Plainly Difficult | Youtube Omnibus

More examples

We shim the door frame until both sides are plumb.
The mechanic slides a metal shim between the worn parts.
A software shim lets the old program use the newer interface.

Forms

shim · shims · shimmed · shimming

Similar words

spacer: Maintains a set distance rather than correcting an uneven fit.
wedge: Usually tapered and driven into gaps to lift or secure.