Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Dictionary, 11th Edition
RIVET
I. noun
Etymology: Middle English, clinch on a nail, rivet, from Old French, from river to attach, rivet, probably from rive border, edge, bank, from Latin ripa
Date: 15th century
a headed pin or bolt of metal used for uniting two or more pieces by passing the shank through a hole in each piece and then beating or pressing down the plain end so as to make a second head,
II. transitive verb
Date: 15th century
to fasten with or as if with rivets, to upset the end or point of (as a metallic pin, rod, or bolt) by beating or pressing so as to form a head, to fasten or fix firmly , to attract and hold (as the attention) completely, riveter noun