afslutter

Afslutter is a Dutch noun formed from afsluiten, meaning to close off or terminate, with the agentive suffix -er. The term is used to refer to a person or thing that closes something or brings a process to a halt. In standard usage, however, the more common form for a closing device is afsluiter; afslutter may appear in some technical or dialectal contexts.

In technical and mechanical contexts, an afslutter can describe a device that terminates a flow or circuit. For example, in piping or process control, a component that stops the flow—such as a valve, cap, plug, or shut-off mechanism—can be described as an afslutter, though the preferred term in many texts is afsluiter. In electrical installations, a switch, circuit-breaker, or other shut-off component may be referred to with the same sense of closing or interrupting a circuit.

In broader usage, afslutter can also denote a person who closes or finalizes a matter or procedure, i.e., someone who brings a transaction, agreement, or project to a close. This sense is general and relies on the metaphor of closing a process.

Etymology and terminology notes: afslutter derives from afsluiten (to close off) + -er. The term afsluiter is the more standard synonym for a closing device in Dutch, and is often preferred in technical manuals, engineering drawings, and procurement documents. Sluiter, klep, and stop are related terms used for specific types of closing elements in various domains.

See also: afsluiter, afsluiting, sleutel, klep, stop.