Plumbing Connectors
In plumbing fittings, the "M" or "F" usually comes at the beginning rather than the end of the abbreviated designation. For example:
- MIPT denotes Male Iron Pipe Thread;
- FIPT denotes Female Iron Pipe Thread.
A short length of pipe having an MIP thread at both ends is sometimes called a nipple. A short pipe fitting having an FIP thread at both ends is sometimes called a coupling.
Hermaphroditic connections, which include both male and female elements in a single unit, are used for some specialized tubing fittings, such as Storz firehose connectors. A picture of such fittings appears in the #Genderless (hermaphroditic) connectors section of this article.
Read more about this topic: Gender Of Connectors And Fasteners