After the second shearing, he is a two-shear ram; . . . at the
expiration of another year, he is a three- shear ram; the name
always taking its date from the time of shearing.
Youatt.
3. (Engin.) An action, resulting from applied forces, which tends to
cause two contiguous parts of a body to slide relatively to each other
in a direction parallel to their plane of contact; -- also called
shearing stress, and tangential stress.
4. (Mech.) A strain, or change of shape, of an elastic body, consisting
of an extension in one direction, an equal compression in a
perpendicular direction, with an unchanged magnitude in the third
direction.
Shear blade, one of the blades of shears or a shearing machine. --
Shear hulk. See under Hulk. -- Shear steel, a steel suitable for
shears, scythes, and other cutting instruments, prepared from fagots of
blistered steel by repeated heating, rolling, and tilting, to increase
its malleability and fineness of texture.
Shear, v. i. 1. To deviate. See Sheer.
2. (Engin.) To become more or less completely divided, as a body under
the action of forces, by the sliding of two contiguous parts relatively
to each other in a direction parallel to their plane of contact.
Shear"bill`, n. (Zoöl.) The black skimmer. See Skimmer.