n. [ L. permutatio: cf. F. permutation. See Permute. ] 1. The act of permuting; exchange of the thing for another; mutual transference; interchange. [ 1913 Webster ]

The violent convulsions and permutations that have been made in property. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Math.) (a) The arrangement of any determinate number of things, as units, objects, letters, etc., in all possible orders, one after the other; -- called also alternation. Cf. Combination, n., 4. (b) Any one of such possible arrangements. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Law) Barter; exchange. [ 1913 Webster ]

Permutation lock, a lock in which the parts can be transposed or shifted, so as to require different arrangements of the tumblers on different occasions of unlocking. [ 1913 Webster ]