triwing

Triwing is a term with multiple uses. In hardware, triwing refers to a type of screwdriver bit with three wing-like blades arranged around a central axis. The three-slotted design matches tri-wing screw heads, a fastener type used by various electronics manufacturers to deter casual tampering. Triwing bits come in several sizes and are sold in general repair kits alongside Phillips, Torx, and other specialty bits. They are used for opening devices such as some handheld electronics and game consoles when authorized service is required. Using a triwing bit on non-matching screws can strip the head or damage the surrounding casing, so correct size and alignment are important.

In aviation and design contexts, the term triwing is sometimes used informally to describe aircraft with three wings. However, this is not a formal classification in mainstream aeronautics. The better-known three-wing configurations are termed triplanes or triple-wing designs, and “triwing” appears mainly in speculative writing, hobbyist discussions, or niche descriptions rather than official terminology.

Summary: triwing most commonly denotes a three-wing screwdriver bit used to engage specific tri-wing screws in electronics repair, while in aviation the term is informal and largely superseded by established terms such as triplane. The two usages are distinct and largely unrelated beyond sharing the same root descriptor.