pulloff

Pulloff, often written pull-off or pulloff, is a term used in several unrelated fields to denote a release or separation action that allows another element to occur or become audible.

In music, a pull-off is a guitar technique used to produce a note without plucking the string. It involves fretting two notes on the same string with different fingers, then pulling the finger off the higher note to let the lower note ring. The motion is performed with the fretting hand and creates a legato connection between notes, often used alongside hammer-ons and slides.

In road transport, a pull-off refers to a short area off the main roadway where vehicles may stop temporarily or move out of the travel lane, such as a lay-by, turnout, or rest area. Pull-offs are intended to improve safety by providing space to yield, allow slower traffic to pass, or allow drivers to stop to observe scenery or handle emergencies.

In materials testing and coatings, a pull-off test measures the adhesion strength between a coating, adhesive, or laminate and its substrate. A bonding fixture is attached to the surface, and a perpendicular force is applied until debonding occurs. The maximum force reached provides a quantitative value for the adhesive strength and is used to compare products and application methods.

Etymology stems from the action of pulling away or off: in the guitar sense, pulling a finger off the fretboard, and in the other senses, withdrawing from the main path or from a bonded assembly.