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.
Origin:
1770–80

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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WordNet
ratchet wheel

noun
toothed wheel held in place by a pawl or detent and turned by a lever 
WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
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00:10
Ratchet wheel is always a great word to know.
So is doohickey. Does it mean:
the offspring of a zebra and a donkey.
a gadget; dingus; thingumbob.
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Example sentences
The significant inputs of a ratchet consist of a handle forging, a toothed ratchet wheel, and a reversible pawl.
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