overhead camshaft

noun

1. a camshaft in an automotive engine that is located in the cylinder head over the engine block rather than in the block. : OHC

overhead camshaft

noun

1. a type of camshaft situated above the cylinder head in an internal-combustion engine. It is usually driven by a chain or a toothed belt from the crankshaft and the cams bear directly onto the valve stems or rocker arms

Word History and Origins

Origin of overhead camshaft¹

First recorded in 1910–15

Example Sentences

I was riding very slowly, mesmerized by the complex symphony of clicks, purrs, clacks and whirs my brand-new CB 750 Honda’s overhead camshaft, four-cylinder engine was performing.

From New York Times

For this year, Ford had a brand-new, strictly racing engine with an aluminum block, double overhead camshaft, and a fuel injection system that cranked up close to 420 h.p.

From Time Magazine Archive

During our test run, the electronic controls for the twin 575-hp Volvo Penta D9 engines were smooth and precise, as was the output from the diesels, which feature a one-piece cylinder head, four valves per cylinder and overhead camshaft.

From Time Magazine Archive

The overhead camshaft Boulevard is still another form of aviation motor which has been favorably received.

From Project Gutenberg