View synonyms for ratchet wheel

ratchet wheel

noun

a wheel, with teeth on the edge, into which a pawl drops or catches, as to prevent reversal of motion or convert reciprocating motion into rotatory motion.

First recorded in 1770–80

When the tympanum vibrates under the influence of the voice, the stylus acts as a pawl and turns a ratchet-wheel.

SB is the primitive radius of the club tooth wheel, but both primitive and real radius of the ratchet wheel.

On the pendulum he had a little ratchet wheel, R, having thirty teeth.

On the side of the clock case was a contact maker, which closed the circuit by the pin on the ratchet wheel, R, once every minute.

An' this ratchet-wheel isn't on the pawl prop'ly—not like what this book says it ought to be.

April 19, 2024tortuous

[tawr-choo-uhs ]

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