[cpdiii]

When I was roughnecking on the drilling rigs on occasion we would have a joint that would not break loose.

These were five inch tubes of steel and we were pulling on them with several thousand pounds of force. We would hit them with a very big sledgehammer and they would break free. What was happening was the metal had become galled.

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

...metal had become galled.

Yes, that's it. I learned that from working in the oilfield as well. Helped a friend out and he taught me.