Collins Dictionary owners

[dr john]

One of the clues in last week's Listener crossword gives an answer that is not in Chambers (which I have) but is in Collins (which I don't). It's a two-word phrase meaning oil-drilling equipment, first word DRILL. The second word has an E towards the end, and also one other letter that isn't in DRILL (all other letters do occur in DRILL so have to be removed). This second word is also defined as 'measure'. Please could some kind Collins owner look it up for me? The online version doesn't give phrases. Thanks.

[ulysses100]

the only phrase that I can see that means oil-drilling equipment is drill press - i hope that that is it.

[Purplebird]

Dr John,

In my Collins there is a drill press ( a machine tool for boring holes).

P.....

[dr john]

Thanks both, but drill press has too many letters - I should have said, there are only 2 spaces available ( drill press would need 3).

[ulysses100]

If you say that letters have to be removed , and therefore not duplicated (?), why not remove one of the "els" from drill ?

[dr john]

Already done that, I'm afraid. The only possibility I can think of is drill pipe (with pipe as a fluid measure = 500 litres). Is that a phrase defined in Collins?

[athene]

I think you have it. Drill pipe appears in Wikipedia as a drill component (don't have Collins I'm afraid!)

[Argee2]

Collins gives: drill-string or pipe (in the oil industry) a pipe made of lengths of steel tubing that is attached to the drilling tool and rotates during drilling to form a bore.

[dr john]

Thanks everyone. Hope they stick to Chambers in future.

[Quizmonkey]

I must admit I find it unacceptable that a word relying on one non-standard reference source should be unchecked. I think the setter (and the crossword.org site) can expect a few complaints in a week or so...