A locknut, also known as a lock nut, locking nut, self-locking nut, prevailing torque nut, stiff nutor elastic stop nut, is a nut that resists loosening under vibrations and torque. Prevailing torque nuts have some portion of the nut that deforms elastically to provide a locking action. Free-spinning locknuts exist which carry the advantage of not requiring extra torque until seated.
