King James Bible Dictionary

(Heb. tsir), that on which a door revolves. "Doors in the East turn rather on pivots than on what we term hinges. In Syria, and especially in the Hauran, there are many ancient doors, consisting of stone slabs with pivots carved out of the same piece inserted in sockets above and below, and fixed during the building of the house" (Proverbs 26:14).

Both ancient Egyptian and modern Oriental doors were and are hung by means of pivots turning in sockets on both the upper and lower sides. (1 Kings 7:50) In Syria, and especially the Hauran, there are many ancient doors consisting of stone slabs with pivots carved out of the same piece, inserted in sockets above and below, and fixed during the building of the house. The allusion in (Proverbs 26:14) is thus clearly explained.

HINGE, noun hinj. [This word appears to be connected with hang, and with angle, the verb.]

1. The hook or joint on which a door or gate turns.

The gate self-opened wide

On golden hinges turning.

2. That on which any thing depends or turns; a governing principle, rule or point. This argument was the hinge on which the question turned.

3. A cardinal point; as east, west, north or south. [Little used.]

To be off the hinges, is to be in a state of disorder or irregularity.

HINGE, verb transitive To furnish with hinges.

1. To bend. [Little used.]

HINGE, verb intransitive To stand, depend or turn, as on a hinge The question hinges on this single point.