Verhaken

Verhaken is a German term used as both a verb and a noun. As a verb, verhaken means to become snagged or to cause something to snag by interlocking with another object. As a noun, Verhaken refers to the condition or occurrence of being snagged, or to the snag itself. The term is mainly used in technical and industrial contexts but can appear in everyday language when describing mechanical obstruction or entanglement.

Etymology: The word is derived from the prefix ver- attached to haken (hook). Related forms include Verhakung (the act of snagging) and verhakt (snagged or interlocked).

Usage: Verhaken occurs when parts engage in an unwanted way, such as a projection catching on a neighboring component, producing a jam, or when threads or edges catch on moving parts. In a typical sentence: "Der Reißverschluss verhakte sich im Stoff" (The zipper snagged on the fabric). In German, the noun Verhakung is more common to denote the phenomenon itself.

Context and fields: The term is commonly found in mechanical assembly and maintenance, textile machinery, and any situation where components become interlocked or impeded. It emphasizes an obstruction caused by interlocking rather than a simple misalignment.

See also: haken (hook), Verhakung (the act of snagging), eingehakt (engaged), verhaken (to snag).