toggle

n. [ Cf. Tug. ] [ Written also toggel. ] 1. (Naut.) A wooden pin tapering toward both ends with a groove around its middle, fixed transversely in the eye of a rope to be secured to any other loop or bight or ring; a kind of button or frog capable of being readily engaged and disengaged for temporary purposes. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Mach.) Two rods or plates connected by a toggle joint. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A toggle switch. [ PJC ]

v. t. (Computer programming) To change the value of (a program variable) by activating a toggle switch; as, to toggle the view from character to graphic mode; to toggle the keyboard input from insert to overtype mode. [ PJC ]

Toggle iron, a harpoon with a pivoted crosspiece in a mortise near the point to prevent it from being drawn out when a whale, shark, or other animal, is harpooned. --
Toggle joint, an elbow or knee joint, consisting of two bars so connected that they may be brought quite or nearly into a straight line, and made to produce great endwise pressure, when any force is applied to bring them into this position.